Brewers GM Doug Melvin says that he has exchanged proposals with Norichika Aoki's agent but isn't sure how it will go, tweets Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Melvin added that the club is looking at other outfield options.
Aoki worked out for the Brewers on Sunday for a little over an hour with Melvin, manager Ron Roenicke, and owner Mark Attanasio present. The Brewers have until 4pm central time on Tuesday to sign Aoki. If they do not reach agreement with the outfielder, the Yakult Swallows must refund the $2.5MM posting fee. The 30-year-old hit .292/.358/.360 for the Swallows in 2011.
If they offer him less than 5M with solid incentives to get him to 7-8M I think he goes back to being the best hitter in Japan…….and I doubt they are going to offer him that.
Teams are being very careful with Japanese Players now.
What is the deal here?
Aoki is a starter in Japan, while he might very well ride the pine for the Brew Crew if he signs with them. The Brewers sound like they are low balling him in addition to having him sit on the bench.Why did the Brewers place a bid for him if they are going to roll this way? MLB Network showed old footage of Johnny Damon when he played for the Royals the other night. To me at least from watching footage of the both of them, it looked like they have the same approach to hitting. I see no reason as to why Aoki can’t be successful here in the States. Maybe the Orioles and Brewers can do a sign and trade deal here, because as of right now I don’t see a meeting of the minds between the two parties.
I think he would play left for Braun and he can take over center over Morgan
1) What info are you basing your assertion that the Brewers are “low balling” Aoki? You are completely inventing that fantasy.
2) If the Orioles wanted him as a starter, they would have bid more than $2.5M. This was not a case of the Brewers intentionally blocking other teams with a high bid; they bid a low amount because they likely were only interested in Aoki as a 4th OF. Nobody else apparently saw a greater role for him. That doesn’t make the Brewers bad guys.
back to the swallows he goes
back to the swallows he goes
I think they were sort of suprised they won the bidding. It may also have been a knee jerk reaction to the Braun situation. Melvin has said himself, the Brewers don’t scout japan.