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A's to sign Japanese shortstop
Hiroyuki Nakajima, a seven-time Pacific League All-Star in Japan, has a .302 batting average with 149 home runs, 664 RBIs and 134 stolen bases over 11 seasons with Seibu.
Associated Press photoPublished: Monday, December 17, 2012 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, December 17, 2012 at 9:09 p.m.
OAKLAND — Two people with knowledge of the negotiations say the Oakland Athletics agreed to sign shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima of Japan’s Seibu Lions.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because there had yet to be a formal announcement. The AL West champion A’s called a news conference for Tuesday afternoon described as a “major announcement.”
Nakajima agreed to a $6.5 million, two-year contract. The deal also includes a $5.5 million option for a third season, one of the people said.
Nakajima, a seven-time Pacific League All-Star, has a .302 batting average with 149 home runs, 664 RBIs and 134 stolen bases over 11 seasons with Seibu. He would fill a big void for Oakland, which traded away shortstop and second baseman Cliff Pennington on Oct. 21 to Arizona in an Oct. 21 trade that brought for outfielder Chris Young.
The club also appears to have lost out on shortstop Stephen Drew, who was acquired in an August trade with Arizona. He batted .250 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 39 regular-season games with Oakland.
General manager Billy Beane’s big priority has been to find a shortstop.
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