The Mets have released veteran outfielder Nori Aoki, per a club announcement. He had been eligible for arbitration, but will instead return to the open market in search of his next destination.
Aoki, 35, caught on with the Mets after opening the 2017 season with the Astros and joining the Blue Jays via trade. In total, he compiled 258 plate appearances of .277/.335/.393 hitting on the season. That rates right near the league average in total output, which is more or less where Aoki has landed in all of his six MLB campaigns.
The move isn’t at all surprising given Aoki’s projected arbitration salary, which sat at a fairly hefty $6.3MM. Still, he’ll surely draw interest in free agency. For all he lacks in upside, Aoki has been stunningly consistent since coming over from Japan. Despite little power, Aoki is nearly impossible to strike out. And while his output against lefties dipped this year in a small sample, he has generally shown little in the way of a platoon split.
I’m confused. There was this big thing with Aoki after 2014 that he was to be a free agent but people said he should be arb eligibke, not a FA but the Royals (or MLB I forget) came out and said no, he qualified for free agency. Why is he arb eligible now?
Aoki won a WS with the Giants in 2014, assuming you meant them
Pretty hard to win a World Series on a team he didn’t even play for then
Well, he was *on the field* when the Giants received their 2014 World Series rings, but he wasn’t a Giant in 2014.
Well, he was *on the field* during the actual 2014 World Series too.
I don’t remember that specific case but the only way he could have been an FA is if he was non tendered or DFA’d back then.
Believe the Brewers signed him to a guaranteed deal as an international FA, so when the Royals acquired him he only had one year remaining (he was a Royal in 2014)
Aoki was signed by Milwaukee on Jan. 17, 2012 to a 2 yrs/$2.5M (2012-13), plus 2014 club option (the option was eventually exercised.) He was traded to Kansas City for the 2014 season.
As per cots baseball, the the contract also had the following clause:
“[Aoki] may become Article XX(B) free agent after expiration of contract (after 2013 or 2014 season)”
So after the 2014 season, he chose to elect free agency, which left him with 3 years of service. (this type of situation is rare)
Hence Aoki was free to sign with whomever he pleased (SF Giants).
But all subsequent contracts would be subject to the usual arbitration rules, as long as he has between 3 to 6 years of service.
As of this moment, he only has 5 years, 148 days of service (ie. less than 6 years), so he is still arbitration eligible.
I could see [MLB team name] taking a chance on him.
Lol
I don’t see why. That team has better options.
Their GM is an idiot and the owner is always happy to cut payroll. [MLB team name] will sign him if he’s not getting many offers and will play for peanuts. Not like they are going to try to win this year after what happened last year. They need to restock the farm system, save their money to sign Harper or Trout and make a run for WS in 2022.
“Not like they are going to try to win this year after what happened last year.”
After lots of their players got hurt?
While they are at it replace that idiot manager too
This is why you’re not a GM *rolls eyes and is smug*
I don’t know, any anonymous team would be willing to use him as a corner outfielder, ask Ken Rosenthal.
He’s the epitome of a decent 4th outfielder…
Nori Aoki is a story of consistency. Look at his numbers- any team who signs him knows EXACTLY what they’re getting
Estimate~ .280/.340/.380 with 10 stolen bases and 4 home runs and overall decent defense off of the bench.
Not decent defense haha. Trust me I’m a mariners fan
It’s like he was on a merry go round every game he was in left field. He some how came up with the catch, one can only wonder how, but Jesus.
He was around average in the outfield this year.
Aoki takes the most ridiculous routes I’ve ever seen an MLB outfielder take.
That the Giants watched him do it during the ‘14 Series and then signed him in ‘15 may be the best evidence of the coming decline.
Can the Mets bring him back for a lesser salary? Or is that type of thing not allowed?
Until David Stern becomes commissioner, it’s allowed.
All this drama…brought to you by the NY Mets…the Wilson’s thrift oriented baseball club playing in Flushing, NY
Wilson?
as a brewers fan I wouldn’t mind picking him up again to come off the bench.
As much as I’d like to think back to his very good 2012 season, it wouldn’t make sense for the brewers. They already have 4 outfielders (Braun, Santana, Broxton, and Phillips) and Thames plays a little left field as well. Not to mention, Brinson needs a spot to, we can’t just let him take in triple a all year, he needs big league time.
This guy batted .281, 8RBI, 3HR, 34PA (32AB) in 12 games (Albeit .294 OBP) (1.4 UZR in 64.0 OF Innings and 13.3UZR/150) 0.4WAR before getting released by the Blue Jays and then scooped up by the Mets.
With the Mets he batted .284, 8RBI, 16R, (7doubles, 1triple) .371OBP (13BB 10SO) 5SB, 0CS, 116PA (102AB) in 27 games (Albeit .373 Slugging) (-1.2 UZR in 213.1 OF Inn and -30.3 UZR/150)
link to fangraphs.com
2017 season: .277BA (93-for-336) 20doubles, 2 triples 5HR, 35RBI, 48R 10SB 2CS .335OBP (29BB 44SO) 0.4WAR in 374PA (336AB)
2017 season defense: -1.5UZR, -7.8 UZR/150 in 765.0 OF Innings in 110 games for Astros, Blue Jays, Mets.
Cliffnotes: If a team doesn’t give Aoki another chance, it’s criminal.
He’s shown enough to deserve it. (At least, Minor League signing)
i could see angels, if upton opts out, they have a steady LF, and if upton stays they get a 4th outfielder to replace revere. win-win
He’ll definitely draw interest from some teams. Aoki is about as steady as you can get with his bat, and his glove and base-running isn’t too bad either.
When they acquired him, the buzz around the Mets was that it was part of the plan to keep him as a bench player next year. Why even take him on for this season? Perhaps they soured on him watching him more often.
The new manager didn’t want him.
I love the photo they chose for this article. “Yer fired!” = jubilant smile
You heard it here first next year outfield for Marlins is Ohanti, Aoki, and Ichiro then sign Darvish,and Matsui along with signing Kawaski lol
Hey stubby, nice new backpack
He was a Giant in 2015
He’s like Ichiro Suzuki, but not as good.
I could see the Pirates making a pass at him if they plan on moving one of their outfielders.
Not going to start a lot of games if Mets get best scenario outcomes (i.e., Conforto is healthy, and Nimmo and Lagerus both stay healthy and perform as hoped). But that rarely happens anywhere (and certainly not with this group). The Mets have nothing in the way of ML ready OF prospects (or close) to slot in if they don’t get best scenario outcomes. LMAO – 6.3 mm for one year is a hefty salary for a professional OF with position flexibility and the ability to hit atop the order? This was supposed to be a year where so much came off the books that even the Wilpons might spend some money. Of course, long time Met fans never believed that, particularly with a thin FA class, Anyway, another off season where Met fans watch other big (and middle) market teams prioritize upgrading their team, while their team assures them they want to win but that everyone good who is available is too expensive.
The story of Nori Aoki is simple: he’s loved and relatively productive wherever he goes, but no team ever keeps him. When faced with the choice of keeping Aoki or taking what’s behind Door #1, every team so far has chosen the latter.