Headlines

  • Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow
  • Astros To Promote Brice Matthews
  • Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers
  • Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help
  • Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays
  • Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Astros Claim Nori Aoki From Mariners

By Steve Adams | November 3, 2016 at 4:34pm CDT

The Astros announced today that they’ve claimed outfielder Nori Aoki off waivers from the Mariners. As MLB.com’s Greg Johns pointed out earlier today (on Twitter), there’s been a public misconception that Aoki is eligible for free agency because his option didn’t vest and because his previous contracts allowed him to hit free agency upon their completion. That doesn’t appear to have been the case with the one-year deal he inked in Seattle last offseason, and he’ll now be controllable by the Astros via arbitration for the 2017 season.

[Related: Updated Houston Astros depth chart]

"<strong

Aoki, 35 in January, will give Houston an option to take some at-bats in left field next season in the wake of Colby Rasmus’ impending departure. He’ll bring a contact-oriented approach to the Astros that represents something of a departure from the strikeout-prone bats with which Houston has been comfortable in recent years. Aoki hit .283/.349/.388 in 467 plate appearances and struck out at just a 9.6 percent clip with Seattle last year after signing a one-year deal in the offseason.

That contract guaranteed Aoki $5.5MM and came with a vesting option for the 2017 season, but Aoki fell 13 PAs shy of triggering that guaranteed 2017 payday. It would appear that the Mariners sought to outright Aoki, thereby allowing him to re-enter the free agent market, but he’ll now head to Houston as an arbitration eligible player. Presumably, he’s the front-runner for everyday at-bats in left field right now, where he’ll bring a career .286/.353/.387 slash and minuscule eight percent strikeout rate to the table. That’ll position the Astros to deploy an outfield with Aoki in left in budding star George Springer in right field. As it currently stands, defensive standout Jake Marisnick will get the bulk of the at-bats in center field, although the Astros have a number of versatile pieces that could allow them to pursue a variety of avenues this offseason.

Springer, for instance, could shift over to center field — especially now that Tal’s Hill has been removed from Minute Maid Park — and allow the Astros to pursue a big-time corner outfield bat. Alternatively, Houston could give Alex Bregman and/or Yulieski Gurriel some time in left field with Aoki covering right field and Springer taking some turns in center, thus freeing up more room for a corner infield/designated hitter addition.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Share 0 Retweet 15 Send via email0

Houston Astros Newsstand Seattle Mariners Transactions Norichika Aoki

Mariners Exercise Seth Smith’s Option, Decline Option On Chris Iannetta
Main
Cardinals To Exercise Jaime Garcia’s Option, Decline Option On Jordan Walden
View Comments (16)
Post a Comment

16 Comments

  1. CubsFanForLife

    9 years ago

    Wait, what? So Seattle didn’t realize that he was still controllable for another season?

    That’s a steal for the Astros.

    Reply
    • davbee

      9 years ago

      You obviously didn’t see Aoki play in the outfield last year. He is officially a liability.

      Reply
      • Sid Bream

        9 years ago

        I’m sure you didn’t see him play. Have you seen some of the plays he’s made and thrown guys out at the plate? Obviously not. Aoki is a good outfielder.

        This was 2015 but he hasn’t changed his name as far as I know.

        youtube.com/watch?v=U-cfzA2FhLI

        You shouldn’t comment when you don’t know what you’re talking about.

        Reply
        • twingo

          9 years ago

          I watched every single Mariners game last year. He is not a serviceable outfielder as an every day player. He cost us games with his defense and his base running was even worse. Defense isn’t just measured in errors. The amount of balls he could not/wouldn’t get to was ridiculous. Safeco is a spacious outfield and he is so worried about colliding with the CF that he shies away from balls that are hit anywhere outside a very small bubble. Aoki was a rally killer for half the season and while he did redeem himself with his OBP the second half, his base running was still awful and cost us key runs during the final playoff push. I’m happy to see him go to another team in our division. Let him make errors and base running miscues somewhere else.

          Reply
      • Sid Bream

        8 years ago

        @davbee He’s already thrown someone out at the plate this year. LMAO at people like you that know nothing. 3 multi hit games and hits in high leverage situations. Laughable some people on these boards.

        Reply
    • Steve Adams

      9 years ago

      No, Seattle knew. They had an option they deliberately kept him from reaching and were trying to outright him when Houston claimed him.

      However, it wasn’t common knowledge that Aoki wouldn’t hit free agency, as far as I can tell. His previous contracts allowed him to hit the open market upon their completion, but clearly that wasn’t the case with his Mariners deal.

      Reply
      • MadisonMariner

        9 years ago

        Yeah, even the various M’s blogs just seemed to assume he was a free agent, but a closer inspection of Cot’s Baseball Contracts show that his previous contracts with Milwaukee in 2012 and 2013(with a 2014 option) and with San Francisco in 2015 show that he had to negotiate as part of each contract that he become a regular free agent at the end of each of those contracts(which many players from Japan have done as well, or been given the right to do as of their initial entry into MLB).

        Aoki had only 4 years of service time as of the end of 2015 and didn’t accrue a full year of service time this year because the M’s optioned him to AAA during the season, meaning he may be controlled for this offseason AND next offseason–i.e.he’ll have less than 5 years of service time at the end of this season and less than 6 years of service time next offseason.

        It also means that he probably won’t be negotiating the right to be a free agent anymore, since he is now team controlled. He can avoid arbitration and get 1-year contracts for 2017 and 2018, but he won’t have the right to negotiate into the contract the right to be a free agent, just like any other MLB player with less than 6 years of service time.

        I see why it was somewhat smart of the M’s to do this, but then to not try to trade him and get something for him but instead pass him through outright assignment waivers and have him get claimed and get nothing?

        Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. 😉

        Reply
  2. 24TheKid

    9 years ago

    Noooooooooooo

    Reply
  3. 24TheKid

    9 years ago

    I think Seattle should sign Rasmus, not because of this but because he would be a good fit if he stays healthy.

    Reply
  4. brockbartels

    9 years ago

    Noooooo nori!!!!

    Reply
  5. twingo

    9 years ago

    The M’s do NOT need Nori. This is a good thing. His defense was atrocious and cost us games. We missed the playoffs by just one game and his noodle arm cost us so many times this year not to mention how many times he was thrown out on the bases. He thinks he is much faster than what he is and ran into so many outs it was pathetic. I’m happy to see a 35 year old outfielder who is a bad baserunner and is terrible on defense go.

    Reply
    • Sid Bream

      9 years ago

      M’s did not miss the play offs because of Aoki, they had a sub par bullpen and relied way too much on Cano, Seager, Cruz to score runs, they platooned Lee & Lind, they had a rookie closer, Cishek lost & blew many games, and the pitching rotation is subpar apart from King Felix, Paxton & Iwakuma. Miley is rubbish and got traded, Walker is inconsistent but has upside. Aoki had a .283 ba and obp of .349 So tell me who are you going to lead off with now?

      Laughable…. At LF he had 4 assists and turned two double plays and fielded 1000. “Terrible on defense”, indeed….

      Aoki 2015 youtube.com/watch?v=U-cfzA2FhLI He really looks like a poor defender….

      Reply
  6. Connorsoxfan

    9 years ago

    Just gotta say, I get a kick out of the fact that the Mariners roster moves article from yesterday is locked for comments because it mentions Steve Clevenger.

    Reply
  7. TJECK109

    9 years ago

    First it says he’s an option for some at bats then it goes on to say he’s the front runner for every day at bats. The guy improved through the course of the article.

    Reply
  8. gaaru

    9 years ago

    He has still chance to become non-tender FA.
    And,how much money would he get if he go to salary arbitration?

    Reply
  9. mstrchef13

    9 years ago

    Crap. The Orioles could have used him.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Astros To Promote Brice Matthews

    Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

    Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

    Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

    Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

    Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Recent

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Poll: Which Teams Should Make The Biggest Push For Jarren Duran?

    MLB Finalizes Home Run Derby Field

    Astros To Promote Brice Matthews

    Giants Outright Sergio Alcántara

    Joe Coleman Passes Away

    Dodgers Outright CJ Alexander

    Trade Deadline Outlook: New York Yankees

    Clarke Schmidt To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Trade Deadline Outlook: Atlanta Braves

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version