SATURDAY: Newman passes along another report (via Twitter) saying that Nakajima hasn't given up on being posted just yet. He wants to meet with Seibu Lions management again and try to get them to change to their minds.
FRIDAY: Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima will not be posted, according to reports passed along by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker (on Twitter). He had been drawing interest from MLB teams including the Orioles and Mariners, but those clubs will have to look elsewhere for middle infield help. Nakajima would have added some pop to the otherwise ordinary group of shortstops available via trade or free agency.
The 28-year-old hit .314/.385/.511 with 20 home runs in 579 plate appearances in Japan this year. In an article for Fangraphs, Newman suggested Nakajima is a line drive hitter whose power could fade in the majors.
Another year of Cesar Izturis….bleh
More like top notch starting SS with plenty of tools and hitability. I say he has a chance to be one of the better SS’s in Baseball if he comes to America and I hope he does…RIGHT BILLY BEANE?
I misread your comment sorry.
Dud.
I really think the thing for lions to do is to post him. His window for being an effective full time player in the majors is closing. They should just let him play where he really wants to.
He probably would’ve been a bust anyways. Akinori Iwamura, Kaz Matsui, Kosuke Fukudome, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Kei Igawa. There are couple others. I doubt he would’ve been the next Ichiro.