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Mariners Have Interest In Nori Aoki

By Jeff Todd | November 30, 2015 at 8:03pm CDT

The Mariners have shown interest in free agent outfielder Nori Aoki, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports. It’s still not clear whether talks will progress to a deal, Dutton’s source noted.

Aoki, 33, had a solid first half last year with the Giants but struggled down the stretch with a fairly significant concussion issue. While we’ve heard indications that he’ll be at full strength, San Francisco declined to pick up his seemingly reasonable $5.5MM option. Of course, it could be that the team simply decided to go in another direction.

He’s hardly an exciting player, but Aoki has been slightly above average at the plate, rather consistently, in his four years since coming to the majors. His .287/.353/.380 slash was good for a 112 wRC+ last year, and both UZR and DRS rated him as an average or better option in the corner outfield. Though Aoki’s overall baserunning numbers weren’t favorable in 2015, he managed to swipe 14 bags in just 93 games.

For Seattle, Aoki would likely slot in as part of an outfield rotation. The club’s possible outfield mix currently features two lefty bats (Seth Smith and Leonys Martin) and three righties (Nelson Cruz, Franklin Gutierrez, and Mark Trumbo). (Of course, some of those players could also factor in at DH and first.) It’s not immediately obvious how things would work out if Aoki were to be added, but it’s worth recalling that new GM Jerry Dioto has already done a lot of asset shifting this winter and could have more in store.

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Seattle Mariners Norichika Aoki

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25 Comments

  1. ben g

    10 years ago

    Dont see it happening… He had alot of injury trouble last year. Fibula and concussiion problems. Who ever the rf in seattle is, it wont be aoki

    Reply
    • 73SFGiantsFan

      10 years ago

      Aoki is a solid option, especially as a lead off hitter. His defense is average to below average but he can be a table setter. I still would like the Giants to bring him back once the dust settles on the major FA market as a stop gap for another a Pagan injury plagued season.

      Reply
  2. wilymo

    10 years ago

    when the giants declined his option they explicitly stated that it wasn’t because of the concussion thing, as far as they were concerned he was healthy and they just wanted to keep their options open going into the winter. they didn’t even rule out bringing him back later on, depending on how things worked out.

    blogs.mercurynews.com/giants/2015/11/04/why-the-gi…

    Reply
    • bradthebluefish

      10 years ago

      My only concern with the Giants declining Aoki’s option is… if Aoki is not a concern, then why not accept the option and trade him?

      Either the Giants are concern about his health or they really want to go after a big fish in OF (Heyward, Gordan).

      Reply
    • Jeff Todd

      10 years ago

      And that’s why I wrote that indications are he’ll be ready to go for next year. But as his and the team’s other concussion experiences show, these things aren’t always linear. I’m not in a position to declare him at 100% health.

      Reply
      • wilymo

        10 years ago

        sure. they could also be lying

        Reply
  3. ImAlwaysRight

    10 years ago

    Mariners gonna have a bad outfield defense

    Reply
    • JT19

      10 years ago

      What makes you say that? As far as I’m concerned, Martin is a year or two removed from being one of the best defensive outfielders and Gutierrez is an ex-gold glove winner (albeit five years ago) but that shows his defensive abilities.

      Reply
      • 123redsox

        10 years ago

        Maybe Martin becomes gold glove caliber but I doubt Gutierrez does again going into his age 33 season and having been 5 years removed as it is. Now by no means am I saying Gutierrez will be poor on defense but i doubt he will be that good to where an outfield with trumbo, smith and cruz included would actually be considered good.

        Reply
        • wilymo

          10 years ago

          thing to consider is, gutierrez was a gold glove CF, now he’s playing left; obviously he’s declined, with his spinal ankylosaurus or what-have-you, but he’s probably still pretty good for a corner guy. him, martin and aoki wouldn’t be a bad unit at all.

          having nelson and trumbo’s names floating around in the OF mix looks bad but realistically if aoki comes in those two are gonna mostly be doing DH and 1B respectively

          Reply
    • marinersfan1977

      10 years ago

      Even if they don’t sign Aoki, there is zero chance that Trumbo plays OF for Seattle. He will likely be traded, not Dipoto’s kind of player

      Reply
  4. gopads

    10 years ago

    Underrated left handed OF bat, same with Parra

    Reply
  5. kingfelix34

    10 years ago

    I’m not saying they should do this, but they could move cano to first, trade Dj Peterson,Patrick kivilham, mark trumbo, James Paxton and or Karns for altuve,springer and a young pitcher

    Reply
    • kingfelix34

      10 years ago

      Instead of signing any position players

      Reply
      • kingfelix34

        10 years ago

        But I really don’t think the Astros will give up altuve

        Reply
    • 123redsox

      10 years ago

      If I was the Astros I wouldn’t except that package for Springer or altuve alone nevermind both and a young pitcher. Altuve is a top 3 second baseman and is still young and springer is a young budding superstar who is under team control through 2020 and I wouldnt doubt he breaks out as a top 5 outfielder in the game next year.

      Reply
    • 123redsox

      10 years ago

      Buddy, when will you learn that quality for quantity will never get it done unless you are trading with billy Beane and even then he has ro be getting talent in return.
      Whenever you trade for talent you need to give up the same amount of quality back. Springer and altuve are budding stars
      This is like the Nationals trading Harper and Desmond a few years ago for that type of package. Wouldnt happen in 100 years. Now I am not saying springer will be Harper but he has that type of potential

      Reply
      • Mark 20

        10 years ago

        Springer has nowhere near the potential of Harper im sorry.

        Reply
      • wilymo

        10 years ago

        i know what you’re saying and you’re right about the trade idea but let’s not get carried away making the point. springer is like three years older than harper

        Reply
    • bustercherrie 2

      10 years ago

      You’re an embarrassment to The King

      Reply
      • kingfelix34

        10 years ago

        I said that the Astros wouldn’t give them up, it was just an idea

        Reply
  6. 123redsox

    10 years ago

    Trumbo 1b cruz dh martin CF Smith CO Aoki CO against righties aoki and smith sit vs lefties trumbo and Cruz move to CO and two other right handed players not listed here play first and DH perhaps Montero fills one of the two spots

    Reply
  7. afenton530

    10 years ago

    Aoki is set up to be Austin Jackson all over again

    Reply
    • JT19

      10 years ago

      Aoki is a good contact hitter that doesn’t strike out, the exact opposite of Jackson.

      Reply
  8. drewm

    10 years ago

    “He’s hardly an exciting player” – I guess that depends on what you find exciting. He’s mostly a contact hitter, but he was exciting to watch in Milwaukee. He can steal bases, can turn on the ball, and occasionally embarrass the defense with his ability to hit the ball where they ain’t. … And occasionally he was exciting in right field, not in a good way.

    Anyway, I love players who walk more than they strike out.

    Reply

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