Tweet
There's officially a new option on the middle infield market, as Japanese star Tsuyoshi Nishioka's team agreed to let him be posted and move to the major leagues.
Nishioka needed the permission of the Chiba Lotte Marines to jump to the U.S., as he wouldn't have been eligible to do so as a free agent until following the 2013 season. Though there were indications last week that the Marines had expressed reservations about letting the Pacific League batting champ go, they ultimately did.
"We are giving him the greatest gift, the chance to realize his dream," Marines president Ryuzo Setoyama told The Daily Yomiuri. "This was an extremely difficult decision, but we want to send him off with good feelings."
Nishioka, 26, could play shortstop -- his position in Japan -- or slide over to second base in the majors. But the team that acquires him will likely do so for his bat. He's a .293 career hitter and led the league with a .346 average this season.
Major league teams will have four business days to submit sealed bids for the right to negotiate with Nishioka. Once Chiba Lotte Marines accept a bid, the winning major league team will then have 30 days to complete a contract with Nishioka. The A's are currently in the middle of that process with pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma.
The Twins are one team likely to bid on Nishioka, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. They're looking for more speed in the middle infield, and Nishioka would provide that.
Nishioka needed the permission of the Chiba Lotte Marines to jump to the U.S., as he wouldn't have been eligible to do so as a free agent until following the 2013 season. Though there were indications last week that the Marines had expressed reservations about letting the Pacific League batting champ go, they ultimately did.
"We are giving him the greatest gift, the chance to realize his dream," Marines president Ryuzo Setoyama told The Daily Yomiuri. "This was an extremely difficult decision, but we want to send him off with good feelings."
Nishioka, 26, could play shortstop -- his position in Japan -- or slide over to second base in the majors. But the team that acquires him will likely do so for his bat. He's a .293 career hitter and led the league with a .346 average this season.
Major league teams will have four business days to submit sealed bids for the right to negotiate with Nishioka. Once Chiba Lotte Marines accept a bid, the winning major league team will then have 30 days to complete a contract with Nishioka. The A's are currently in the middle of that process with pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma.
The Twins are one team likely to bid on Nishioka, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. They're looking for more speed in the middle infield, and Nishioka would provide that.
Comment