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.
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
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.
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.
link to blogs.mercurynews.com
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).
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.
sure. they could also be lying
Mariners gonna have a bad outfield defense
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.
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.
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
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
Underrated left handed OF bat, same with Parra
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
Instead of signing any position players
But I really don’t think the Astros will give up altuve
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.
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
Springer has nowhere near the potential of Harper im sorry.
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
You’re an embarrassment to The King
I said that the Astros wouldn’t give them up, it was just an idea
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
Aoki is set up to be Austin Jackson all over again
Aoki is a good contact hitter that doesn’t strike out, the exact opposite of Jackson.
“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.