The Yankees are not only the team in town to possibly sign a Japanese star this offseason.

The Mets are expected to announce Friday that they have signed third baseman Norihiro Nakamura, Newsday reported.

New York, which decided against bringing back former third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo, will give Nakamura a two-year deal worth $7 million and an option for a third year worth $6 million, according to the newspaper's source familiar with the negotiations.

Nakamura led the Pacific League in RBI the past two seasons, hitting 46 homers in 2001 and 42 in 2002, with Kintetsu. .