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Brewers win right to negotiate with Japan's Aoki

Sports Dec. 19, 2011 - 05:57AM JST ( 14 )

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14 Comments

1

TorafusuTorasanDec. 19, 2011 - 09:21AM JST

The Brew Crew is scrambling to get some good batting. Despite having a great 2011, their next season is looking bleak because two of their best sluggers will be gone. Prince Fielder is looking for a megabucks contract via free agency, and Ryan Braun's positive artificial testosterone test just after winning the NL MVP was a major bummer for Brewers fans, since he will be suspended for the first 1/3 of next season. Good luck Aoki in the land of cheese, bratwurst, and beer.
-1

ironchefDec. 19, 2011 - 09:44AM JST

Aoki will probably hate in Milwaukee. No offense, but the midwest isnt the ideal place for Japanese players to settle. But i guess making millions can help with the transition.
1

Patrick HattmanDec. 19, 2011 - 09:52AM JST

@ironchef:

Aoki will probably hate in Milwaukee. No offense, but the midwest isnt the ideal place for Japanese players to settle. But i guess making millions can help with the transition.

Takashi Saito had a successful year with the Brew Crew last year and I didn't read of any complaints from him.

Milwaukee is also a short drive or train ride from the Chicago metro area. I don't think Aoki will have any trouble finding Japanese friends and food when he needs them.
0

yaguraDec. 19, 2011 - 09:59AM JST

Only $2.5 mil for 3-time batting champion with a .329 career average seems a little low, even for just the negotiating rights. Surprised that Yakult even accepted this low of bid. He's not worth more to them than that? Maybe they are just being sincere and letting him pursue his dream, but this kinda low bid doesn't seem to be a good thing for any players who might come after Aoki. Good luck to him though, he'll get to play for Bud's team and maybe he'll end up doing well.

Another indication of MLB skepticism of the ability of NPB players to successfully make the jump? Although the bidding of Darvish has already finished, I wonder if this means another surprise is soon to be revealed.
-2

TatankaDec. 19, 2011 - 10:12AM JST

Excluding Ichiro and Matsui to a lesser extend (in his prime) a .329 career average here in Japan probably translates to a .270 hitter in MLB...
0

Patrick HattmanDec. 19, 2011 - 10:25AM JST

Aoki had a down year for the Swallows last year and will turn 30 in a couple weeks. I suspect that a lot of teams looked more at the career of Kosuke Fukudome as a comparison and see Aoki as more of versatile 4th OF capable of starting in stretches, and not as a leadoff man for 140/150 starts.
2

Patrick HattmanDec. 19, 2011 - 10:27AM JST

Only $2.5 mil for 3-time batting champion with a .329 career average seems a little low, even for just the negotiating rights. Surprised that Yakult even accepted this low of bid. He's not worth more to them than that?

It's better for them to get a few million out of him now instead of nothing later.

Good luck to him though, he'll get to play for Bud's team and maybe he'll end up doing well.

It hasn't been Selig's team for many years and that's probably one of the reasons they've had some success the past few.
0

Patrick HattmanDec. 19, 2011 - 10:28AM JST

Excluding Ichiro and Matsui to a lesser extend (in his prime) a .329 career average here in Japan probably translates to a .270 hitter in MLB...

His average will be important to an extent, but his OBP will be even more critical if he wants to play a lot. Also, his ability to play defense well and do something on the bases too.
0

LagunaDec. 19, 2011 - 12:40PM JST

Shoot - thought this had something to do with beer.
0

yaguraDec. 19, 2011 - 01:40PM JST

Patrick HattmanDEC. 19, 2011 - 10:27AM JST It's better for them to get a few million out of him now instead of nothing later.

Perhaps. $2.5 mil just doesn't seem like a lot for a team like Yakult, even if they were gonna eventually lose him later on. Not just in monetary terms but maybe he had some trade value. The Swallows did make the playoffs this season, beating the Giants in the first round before eventually losing to the Dragons. Wonder if the Swallows fans are gonna be a happy with this move? Aoki still has to agree to a contract though so I guess nothing is set in stone quite just yet, especially since I don't think Milwaukee's gonna offer him tons of money for tons of years. He just might decide to stay in Japan.

It hasn't been Selig's team for many years and that's probably one of the reasons they've had some success the past few.

It will kinda always be Bud's team whether he is the owner on record or not. After all, they've got a statue of him outside the stadium. :D
1

DotobockDec. 19, 2011 - 07:15PM JST

Brewers are one of my favorite teams in the Majors. And so is the Swallows. He'll be greatly missed at Jingu. Personally of the players I really liked. A few seasons ago he was unstoppable. But he has had some off years too. Hope he'll make the transition.
-3

smithinjapanDec. 19, 2011 - 07:22PM JST

"Aoki is the only player in Japanese professional baseball to have had two 200-hit seasons."

Really? I thought more players did better than that. Oh well.
0

sfjp330Dec. 20, 2011 - 06:32AM JST

If Brewers were looking for comparable hitter, they should've purse Coco Crisp. Aoki has very weak arm and lack range in the outfield. Crisp is twice is better defensively. Crisp also can hit for power in the gaps. Aoki will be another disappointment. Maybe he will hit .230 if he's lucky.
3

biculturalDec. 20, 2011 - 10:12AM JST

sfjp, coco crisp? For someone who bashes Ichiro for his low OBP, you choose crisp who's OBP was .314 this year?