When Benny Agbayani departs for Japan next week, it will mark the start of his 17th pro season in baseball.

It also might me his last.

The 1989 Saint Louis School graduate who was drafted in the 30th round out of Hawai'i Pacific University in 1993 signed a one-year extension with the Chiba Lotte Marines with an option for 2010. He has played for the Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball since 2004.

"I'll play this year out," Agbayani said. "If it doesn't work out, I'll just retire. Just move on."

He said the Marines have the option of picking up 2010 or may sever ties with a buyout.

"The management has changed for us, so they announced this is (manager) Bobby Valentine's last year," Agbayani explained. "It was no ifs or buts, no matter what we do."

Valentine has been manager of the Marines since 2003. (He also managed the Marines in 1995.) In a related note, Marines farm team manager Lenn Sakata, also from here, added this would be his last season with the Japanese organization.

Although Valentine has been a staunch supporter of Agbayani since their days with the New York Mets, the outfielder said he would be willing to return to the Marines even though Valentine will no longer be the manager after this season.

"If they give me the opportunity to play again, then I'll play," Agbayani said.

Last season, the Marines fell a half-game shy of making postseason. In 97 games, Agbayani hit .283 with 12 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 42 RBIs. It was the fewest games and the lowest output in most offensive categories of his five-year career with the Marines.

"My playing time was limited," he said. "I just hope this year I get to play more.

"I guess Bobby tried to give everybody a fair number of at-bats. Some guys got more than the others. I felt was I was more of the veteran guy off the bench. But at the end, when we were in the playoff hunt, I started playing almost every day. Just have to see how he plays it out this year."

Agbayani said he has no intention of returning to Major League Baseball when he is done with the Marines.

"It's been a great experience for me and my family," he said. "I made a lot of money (roughly $1.1 million per season from 2005 to 2007, according to www.japanesebaseball.com). I love the game. I enjoy it. You don't have to deal with all the politics that go on in the U.S. It's either you play well and they invite you back or they just say, 'sayonara.' Pack your bags, never come back. That's how Japanese baseball's been since I've been there."