Yankees Get Japanese Star Irabu

The talking is over. Now Hideki Irabu finally will get his wish: to pitch for the New York Yankees.

The 27-year-old right-hander agreed to terms Thursday, getting the richest deal ever given a major league rookie, a $12.8-million, four-year contract. Of that, $8.5 million is a signing bonus.

Irabu will appear at Yankee Stadium today to formally join the team.

“It could open up the whole Asian market to the Yankees,” New York pitcher David Cone said in Toronto after beating the Blue Jays. “And we certainly need the fans, not to mention the pitching depth it gives us.”

Irabu and his agent, Don Nomura, spent part of Thursday with the players’ union, working out details.

Irabu, who has a 59-59 lifetime record in Japan’s Pacific League with 1,111 strikeouts in 1,102 2/3 innings, will probably be assigned to the minors for a week to a month.