The posting period for 29-year-old Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima is complete, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). MLB and NPB have yet to announce the high bid.
Yesterday we learned that at least one team has placed a bid on Nakajima, though Brewers GM Doug Melvin confirmed that the Brewers will not submit a bit according to Tom Haudricourt of The Journal Sentinel (on Twitter). The Seibu Lions are expected to accept the high bid regardless of amount. Nakajima, who was posted on Monday, hit .297/.354/.433 with 16 home runs and 27 doubles in 633 plate appearances for the Lions in 2011. He is represented by Legacy Sports.
I hope the Cardinals placed a bid.
Did a player actually become available without either the Marlins or the Blue Jays somehow getting connected to him? I didn’t know that could still happen…
mystery team wins bid, boras completely confused
.354 OBP in Japan? I don’t see him making a big impact.
Go Nakajima!
I know somewhat about the Japanese League and watch their games from time to time. His defense isn’t bad but not all that good either and I suspect he might have to move to 2nd base in the majors. At the plate, he might be a bit better than Nishioka of the Minnesta Twins but not by much. Personally, I see him as a slightly downgraded version of Matsui (the other Matsui, not Hideki).
My 96 year old granny hits “a bit better than Nishioka”. Noxzema, or whatever his name is, could be a terrible fielder and still play short better than Ishy-Choka too….. How long til mlb pays these guys to stay in Japan?
He has a nice OBP SLG and OPS. He hit into 20 DP in 2010 so he might be a groundball threat.
From what little was in the story line… My guess is a 2nd tier team.. Padres perhaps, maybe the Pirates.
The Pirates have Barmes and Neil Walker up the middle and being notorious cheapskates I doubt they would pay the posting fee + salary for him to sit on the bench. Padres though I could see.
Looks like a perfect option for the Blue Jays at second base. I’m thinking the posting fee will be 5-8 million and the contract will be 3/12 or 3/15, perhaps with an option.
I would be shocked if it were that high, given what Nishioka got last year.
.297/.354 in japan? thats like .205/.285 in the big leagues
Maybe so, then could get a few decent seasons out of him like the Rays did Aki Iwamura also. So maybe it’s a low odds crap shoot on another middle infielder is how lower tier teams are reading it and just going to low ball bid, then throw that 3/10-12m offer at him and see what he wants to do.
yeah i could see that, as long as the money is low, take a chance
The Mets could use a 2b.
I’m going to go with my default pick for all Japanese players: The Mariners
Solid pick.
I wouldn’t preclude Boston with most NPB players now with Valentine as the manager, except “up the middle” is the area they are already loaded at.. Pedroia, Scuttaro, Lowrie, Avilles. They already have to move at least 1.
“Agent Don Nomura tweeted Monday of the Blue Jays’ interest in Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima of the Seibu Lions.Nomura,
who represented Hideo Nomo, Hideki Irabu and other Japanese players,
wrote in Japanese: “I heard that the Blue Jays won the posting for
Nakajima. Is it true? I could be wrong.””