After spending the past six seasons in Major League Baseball, outfielder Nori Aoki is reportedly headed back to Japan. Both the Kyodo News and Japan Times report that the 36-year-old Aoki has agreed to a three-year contract with the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. The CAA client’s deal is reported to be worth one billion Yen — or $9.19MM in total over that three-year term.
Aoki split the 2017 season between the Astros, Blue Jays and Mets, hitting a combined .277/.335/.393 with five homers and 10 steals over the course of 374 plate appearances. That marked the lowest total of plate appearances he’d received in a season since coming over from NPB with the Brewers in 2012, though his overall output at the plate was still only slightly below the league average in the estimation of metrics like OPS+ (98) and wRC+ (97).
That said, Aoki was one of many options for MLB teams on a crowded free-agent market for outfielders (MLBTR Free Agent Tracker link), and heading into his age-36 campaign, he was also one of the older players on that market. As the game increasingly gravitates away from guaranteeing significant commitments to players in their late 30s, it seems likely that Aoki would’ve had to settle for a minor league pact or a low-salary, one-year commitment from a big league team if he wished to continue playing in North America.
Instead, he’ll head back to the organization where he starred from from 2005-11 prior to making the move to Major League Baseball. In parts of eight seasons with Yakult, Aoki posted a hefty .329/.402/.454 batting line with 84 homers and 164 stolen bases. He’ll return as a well-traveled elder statesman on the tail end of his career, hoping to benefit the team both on the field as well as off the field as he shares his experiences with the organization’s younger talent.
Given that the reported contract will run through Aoki’s age-38 season, it seems quite likely that his days in the Majors could be over. If that indeed proves to be the case, then he more than held his own in the big leagues. The remarkably consistent Aoki hit between .277 and .288 in each of his six seasons here, and his on-base percentage never dipped below this past season’s mark of .335. In all, he batted .285/.350/.387 as a Major Leaguer, spending time with the Brewers, Royals (with whom he appeared in the 2014 World Series), Giants, Mariners, Astros, Blue Jays and Mets.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I really liked the half-season Aoki had in Houston, and I’m glad he got a good ovation when he returned to Houston after being dealt. Solid player. Give him his ring!
He was so fun to watch as a Brewer. He was traded straight up for Will Smith which wasn’t a bummer. Good luck, Nori!
Sure, but doesn’t all that time away doing movies take from his playing time availability?
He was just at the wrong time. Back in the days of those fast, contact-hitting Cardinals teams, etc., a guy like him would have been more appreciated. Everything is about power these days.
This is a pretty story but the real issue is simply that he sucks
Nah he doesn’t like to suck to much as to blow
Get a new hobby. You have no idea what you’re talking about. Neither does your buddy below.
I know that he’s below league average at the plate, and below league average on defense, making him a poor choice as a starting player, defensive sub, or pinch hitter.
I also know he’s accumulated 1.5 fWAR in his most recent 200 games, which is bad.
And lastly, I know he’s averaging barely 1 fWAR over each of his last 3 years, which is still bad.
But hey, don’t let actual facts interfere with your narrative!
.756 OPS against right handed pitching means he had value when used properly. 5 for 5 in stolen bases means he can still run the bases. .818 OPS after the All Star Break, meaning he was very productive in the second half.
But hey, don’t let actual facts interfere with your narrative!
How can a guy with 102 career ops+ who plays all 3 outfield positions be “below league average”? Aoki even has a .315 average and .383 obp as a pinch hitter–that’s no small feat.
You said that he’s bad but then stated that he’s been worth around 1 WAR each of the last 3 years…..0 WAR is league average. He’s been slightly above league average every year he has played in MLB. It seems like you’re simply comparing him to superstars. As a whole hit .285/.350/.387 33/219/98 and has nearly drawn as many walks as K’s. He’s had a good career in MLB. But hey, don’t let actual facts interfere with your narrative! Just use WAR!
Because the poster is just an anonymous jerk off on the internet trying to be edgy.
0 WAR is NOT league average. WAR stands for wins above replacement, not wins above average. Replacement level is significantly worse than average, and a WAR of 0 is replacement level.
You gotta be dumb to not realize his usefulness to a team.
“Everything is about power these days…..”
Sadly, you’re correct.
*Dr. Evil finger* One billion yen!
I yelled his name from the left field bleachers this year at Wrigley until I lost my voice when the blue Jays were in town. We’ll never forget each other.
I liked him as a giant but hey – he is a billionaire now.
Congratulations and best wishes, Nori. I enjoyed your time in Houston and enjoy watching you again when I re-watch the condensed games.
Good guy was so annoying especially on IT.
Swallows LOL