After failing to come to a contract agreement with the Yankees, Hiroyuki Nakajima has returned to the Seibu Lions on a one-year contract worth $3.64MM plus incentives according to a Sanspo report passed along by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. The 29-year-old shortstop will become an international free agent after the season and is expected to pursue a deal with an MLB team.
The Yankees won Nakajima's negotiating rights with a $2MM bid in early-December. They offered a one-year contract but money was reportedly not the reason they failed to come to terms on a contract, instead it was years. Nakajima wanted to become a free agent after the deal expired while the Yankees wanted standard control (six years). He hit .297/.354/.433 with 16 home runs and 27 doubles in 633 plate appearances for Seibu in 2011.
I wonder what the odds will be that he comes to play for Seattle next year?
We gotta keep that asian pipeline flowing for our majority owner!
Damn Seibu Lions, throwin’ their money around while the poor Yankees get outbid again …
Cue “The Yankees won the bid so they’d block anyone else from getting him!!!!!” Like last year with Oakland and Iwakuma.
What are the rules on NPB players as far as team control? If he signed a one year contract would he be a free agent after the season?