4:37pm: Aoki will receive a $5.5MM base salary, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (via Twitter). The contract contains a $6MM mutual option that will automatically vest if Aoki reaches an unspecified but “easily attainable” playing time figure (presumably, plate appearances). Aoki can also earn up to $1.5MM worth of incentives in each season of the contract.
By signing for $5.5MM, Aoki receives the exact same amount he’d have been guaranteed if the Giants had exercised his 2016 option. Of course, Aoki does come out ahead in this scenario, as he’ll pocket the $700K buyout that was already paid to him by the Giants. And, of course, he can surpass the $5.5MM figure via incentives, creating the opportunity to further distance himself from what he’d have earned by returning to San Francisco for a second season.
4:21pm: Jerry Dipoto’s ongoing efforts to create a more athletic outfield and bolster his club’s on-base percentage continued on Thursday, as the Mariners’ GM announced the signing of Nori Aoki to a one-year contract with a vesting/mutual option for the 2017 season. Aoki is represented by CAA Sports.
Aoki has spent four years in the majors after coming over from Japan. Now entering his age-34 season, he has consistently delivered average (or slightly better) offensive production with a high-contact, low-K, high-OBP approach. All told, he owns a .287/.353/.386 MLB batting line, and has never wavered much from that mark.
It had seemed for some time that Aoki would be spending this season back with the Giants, but the club paid him a $700K buyout rather than picking up a $5.5MM option. Aoki’s .287/.353/.380 slash last year was a virtually direct match for his career line, though it translates to a 112 wRC+ once the effects of playing in spacious AT&T Park are accounted for. But the veteran was less effective in the second half, and missed significant time with a concussion.
Now, it seems, Aoki is back to health. However, he’s still not without his limitations as a player. As the above-cited offensive numbers show, he’s not much of a power threat and has never again hit double-digit homers since his first season in the majors. Though UZR has consistently rated him as an above-average gloveman in the corner outfield, many have observed that he’s not an efficient or consistent route-taker and the DRS metric has identified a defensive dip in recent seasons. Aoki remains a twenty-steal threat, but Fangraphs’ BsR calculation pegs him as a below-average baserunner.
We heard just recently of Seattle’s interest in the veteran. As I noted at the time, the club’s overall outfield (and first base/DH) mix seemed a bit crowded. Following this week’s trade of Mark Trumbo, though, there’s now one less highly-compensated player in the mix.
By plugging in Aoki, Seattle now has three outfielders at the Major League level that hit from the left side, as he joins center fielder Leonys Martin and corner outfielder Seth Smith. Meanwhile, Nelson Cruz and fellow right-handed hitter Franklin Gutierrez are also under contract. New skipper Scott Servais will have plenty of platoon options available to him.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first reported the signing (links to Twitter).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
The Marines?
Guess you never made a typo?
Not as implausible as it sounds. Aoki made his name in the NPB, and I hear the Chiba Lotte Marines could be looking for a marketable veteran outfielder.
Fixed.
Thanks. No disrespect intended, Jeff.
All good, none taken.
Ooh rah
I guess we found out the real reason Trumbo was traded
non-tender monies dipoto didn’t want to spend and dipoto was not a trumbo fan. thats why he was traded. its a 1-year deal so im sure whatever the m’s give to aoki, we already had the funds to sign him anyway. the 9 mill savings with trumbo could net a 1b, SP, and/or a RP.
Isn’t Aoki more of a platoon OF? I wonder if Dipoto is looking to package Smith and try to land a RF.
No, he has actually reverse platoon splits (118 wRC vs L and 103 against righties). My guess is that he’ll start everyday and Guti would platoon Smith. Assuming that Dipoto doesn’t make another move to improve the outfield, that is.
I wish the Braves would have Aoki instead of Markakis. Same player almost at this point in their careers and Aoki is cheaper on a shorter deal. Oh well, good sign Mariners
Kakes has proven considerably more durable. He hit incredibly well in Atlanta, I don’t see why people complain so much
This guy in Seattle has been making some moves! Preller it is time to catch up with Asdrubal Cabrera, Desmond, Justin Upton or Chris Davis – or a big trade
Or you could find some young players to balance your team
a trade may help to do just that, up to this point Preller has made efforts in that direction since the offseason began
Your team should too.
Yeah, DiPoto wants to be the AL’s Preller. He’s been very active.
He’s not adding the bug contract power bats, he’s getting the exact opposite
I mean high price, don’t know where I got bug contract
guess i can blame arte for this one, bc always thought aoki would’ve been a perfect fit for the angels; play LF every day & hit lead off…
he be better off in Seattle since there are quiet few population of Japanese people.
This is a good deal for the M’s. And I believe Aoki will be an every day starter, no platoon. The guy gets on base. Period. He has struck 169 times in his MLB career. Add his speed on the base paths; this is exactly the type of player the M’s needed.
I can tell you one thing. He is no Ichiro.
Who is?
Neither are most American OF’ers
How much did he get?
I give props to Dipoto! Aoki is a great deal for that amount of $$$ and Jerry is getting the most for his money at each position he is changing! This is what mid market teams must do to remain competitive against the mega payrolls! Cano is a bust at 20 million per season but Felix and Cruz are worth the money! Seattle will have to pay dearly to retain Iawakuma so Trumbo had to go to free up the payroll necessary to retain Iawakuma who is a must for the Mariners to potentially win the West next season!
What are the “plenty of platoon options” in the last paragraph? I see Smith and Gutierrez, but what else? They’ve made it pretty clear they value D and don’t want to put Cruz in the OF, but even if they did for a platoon they’d have to replace him at DH with another right-handed bat anyway. So I see 1-1.5 potential platoons out of those guys, which isn’t particularly many.
Smith/guti in Left, Aoki in center, Cruz in right. Or Aoki in left, Martin in center, guit/smith in right with cruz at DH. Smith in left, Martin in center, Guti in right. 5 players can give you pretty deep options, but they aren’t done adding players by a long shot
Giants dun goofed when they declined Aoki’s option. Could have easily traded Aoki for a prospect based on his new contract. Simply wow.