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Twins get top bid for Japanese infielder
Minnesota spent $5 million for exclusive negotiating rights to Tsuyoshi Nishioka, whose signing should be relatively easy.
By TWINS INSIDER JOE CHRISTENSEN
After bidding about $5 million to win the exclusive negotiating rights for Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka, the Twins should have little trouble closing the deal.
So get ready to see another batting champion in Minnesota's 2011 lineup, alongside Joe Mauer.
Nishioka, a 26-year-old switch hitter, batted .346 as a shortstop for the Chiba Lotte Marines to win this year's Japanese Pacific League batting title.
Major League Baseball announced Friday that the Twins had submitted the winning bid for Nishioka, giving them 30 days to negotiate with his agents from the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
If no deal is struck, the Twins won't have to pay the $5 million posting fee to Chiba Lotte, but this negotiation is expected to go much smoother than the one Oakland is having with Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma.
Nishioka is in a different position than Iwakuma and other players who have come to the majors from Japan. For one thing, he's younger.
Iwakuma, 29, is one year from free agency in Japan. The A's outbid the Twins and other teams, agreeing to a $19.1 million posting fee to the Rakuten Golden Eagles.
If Iwakuma doesn't want to play in Oakland's cold, empty stadium, he can stick it out for one more season in Japan and test the waters again.
Nishioka is three years from free agency. Chiba Lotte is treating this as a special case, and many expect Nishioka to jump at the chance to play before the capacity crowds at Target Field. He would be joining Mauer, who already is a household name in Japan after competing with Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki for his three batting titles.
"I appreciate that Chiba Lotte gave me this opportunity," Nishioka told reporters in Japan.
To finish the deal, the Twins probably won't have to give Nishioka more than $3 million per season over three years. For comparison, Iwakuma is believed to be seeking $11 million per year, and that's not including the posting fee.
Nishioka made the equivalent of about $1.7 million in Japan this year, in what was really a breakout season.
Injuries had limited his playing time in previous years, though he stole 41 bases for Chiba Lotte under then-manager Bobby Valentine in 2005.
"I had this kid as a baby," Valentine said in an e-mail. "I did think he was special and would someday win a batting title. He has a specialness about him. Always wanted to play in the States. Comes up big in big situations."
Last year, Nishioka helped Chiba Lotte win their first Japan Series title since 2005. Besides winning the batting title, he posted a .423 on-base percentage and had 51 extra-base hits (32 doubles, eight triples and 11 home runs).
Nishioka has won Gold Gloves at both second base and shortstop, but some think his arm is best suited for second. There's also the question of how he'll adjust to major league pitching.
Twins General Manager Bill Smith hesitated to speak about Nishioka, whose rights still belong to Chiba Lotte, but Smith did say, "He's a good player, and we'd love to have him."
That was obvious from the Twins' posting fee. Their goal is to add speed to the middle infield, and Nishioka would seem to fit the bill. He has averaged 28 stolen bases over the past six seasons, including 22 this year.
When the dust settles, Nishioka could wind up playing second base for the Twins. They offered arbitration to free agent Orlando Hudson, but he is expected to decline and sign elsewhere.
On Thursday, they must decide whether to tender a contract to shortstop J.J. Hardy, whose salary is expected to reach $6 million through arbitration. The Twins likely will tender Hardy, though they could wind up trading him.
They think Alexi Casilla is ready to play shortstop or second base. He and Nishioka would certainly add speed up the middle.
Joe Christensen • jchristensen@startribune.com
Appears to be a very good move by the Twins
Minnesota spent $5 million for exclusive negotiating rights to Tsuyoshi Nishioka, whose signing should be relatively easy.
By TWINS INSIDER JOE CHRISTENSEN
After bidding about $5 million to win the exclusive negotiating rights for Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka, the Twins should have little trouble closing the deal.
So get ready to see another batting champion in Minnesota's 2011 lineup, alongside Joe Mauer.
Nishioka, a 26-year-old switch hitter, batted .346 as a shortstop for the Chiba Lotte Marines to win this year's Japanese Pacific League batting title.
Major League Baseball announced Friday that the Twins had submitted the winning bid for Nishioka, giving them 30 days to negotiate with his agents from the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
If no deal is struck, the Twins won't have to pay the $5 million posting fee to Chiba Lotte, but this negotiation is expected to go much smoother than the one Oakland is having with Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma.
Nishioka is in a different position than Iwakuma and other players who have come to the majors from Japan. For one thing, he's younger.
Iwakuma, 29, is one year from free agency in Japan. The A's outbid the Twins and other teams, agreeing to a $19.1 million posting fee to the Rakuten Golden Eagles.
If Iwakuma doesn't want to play in Oakland's cold, empty stadium, he can stick it out for one more season in Japan and test the waters again.
Nishioka is three years from free agency. Chiba Lotte is treating this as a special case, and many expect Nishioka to jump at the chance to play before the capacity crowds at Target Field. He would be joining Mauer, who already is a household name in Japan after competing with Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki for his three batting titles.
"I appreciate that Chiba Lotte gave me this opportunity," Nishioka told reporters in Japan.
To finish the deal, the Twins probably won't have to give Nishioka more than $3 million per season over three years. For comparison, Iwakuma is believed to be seeking $11 million per year, and that's not including the posting fee.
Nishioka made the equivalent of about $1.7 million in Japan this year, in what was really a breakout season.
Injuries had limited his playing time in previous years, though he stole 41 bases for Chiba Lotte under then-manager Bobby Valentine in 2005.
"I had this kid as a baby," Valentine said in an e-mail. "I did think he was special and would someday win a batting title. He has a specialness about him. Always wanted to play in the States. Comes up big in big situations."
Last year, Nishioka helped Chiba Lotte win their first Japan Series title since 2005. Besides winning the batting title, he posted a .423 on-base percentage and had 51 extra-base hits (32 doubles, eight triples and 11 home runs).
Nishioka has won Gold Gloves at both second base and shortstop, but some think his arm is best suited for second. There's also the question of how he'll adjust to major league pitching.
Twins General Manager Bill Smith hesitated to speak about Nishioka, whose rights still belong to Chiba Lotte, but Smith did say, "He's a good player, and we'd love to have him."
That was obvious from the Twins' posting fee. Their goal is to add speed to the middle infield, and Nishioka would seem to fit the bill. He has averaged 28 stolen bases over the past six seasons, including 22 this year.
When the dust settles, Nishioka could wind up playing second base for the Twins. They offered arbitration to free agent Orlando Hudson, but he is expected to decline and sign elsewhere.
On Thursday, they must decide whether to tender a contract to shortstop J.J. Hardy, whose salary is expected to reach $6 million through arbitration. The Twins likely will tender Hardy, though they could wind up trading him.
They think Alexi Casilla is ready to play shortstop or second base. He and Nishioka would certainly add speed up the middle.
Joe Christensen • jchristensen@startribune.com
Appears to be a very good move by the Twins
