Norichika Aoki Posted - Should We Bid?
by ruktuim on Dec 12, 2011 10:08 AM EST
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PrintYakult Swallows filed posting paperwork on outfielder Norichika Aoki on Monday morning (Japan time).
Source: http://twitter.com/#!/jonmorosi/status/146103267334688769
Could the 29 year old center fielder be the outfield help we need if slotted into right field?
Aoki is said to be the best pure hitter to be posted since Ichiro, boasting a career .336/..411/.472 BA/OBP/SLG slash. Defensively he won the Japanese equivalent to the Golden Glove from 2006-2010, in center field.
Personally, I was extremely impressed with him in the World Baseball classic. I'd love for us to bid on Aoki and see if we could sign him to a reasonable contract. However, as impressed as I was with him at the WBC, I wouldn't break the bank for a 29 year old contact hitting Japanese import.
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At 29, I doubt many teams will be going too crazy with their bids
And since we seem so obsessed with dodging the tax, Aoki could certainly be a reasonable 3rd man to add to that bizarre situation out in right at the moment.
The thing that I think will take us out of it is that he’s left-handed. If we’re going to take a risk on a guy, I think the team will at least want him to fit into a platoon better (should he not work out too well).
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USG
He might be the buy low gamble the Soxs seem to like taking.
If he regresses because of the transition, I’d expect Aoki to be a small upgrade over our internal options. If he can translate his Japanese success to the MLB he would be a big improvement.
I look at him as one of those low cost players with high upside. It’s a gamble, but I think he could be gotten cheap and would work within our tax dodging situation.
Age and his left handed bat are two major detractors.
I like him simply because, in my opinion, Aoki was by far the most impressive Japanese player at the World Baseball Classic. I’ve been waiting for him to be posted since than. I can’t wait to see how he does in the MLB.
Fuck Carl Crawford
Correction - Aoki is a Switch Hitter.
Hes a switch hitter, so you can take the left handed bat concern out of the argument against.
Fuck Carl Crawford
That makes him about 2x as attractive.
He’s the consensus best hitter to come over from NPB since Ichiro…I would hope the FO at least places a bid.
What’s the overall price estimate?
Damn you BRef!
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by Ben Buchanan on Dec 12, 2011 5:46 PM EST up reply actions
How's his defence?
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
OTM | Silver Seven
Lauded by the people who vote, at least.
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by Ben Buchanan on Dec 12, 2011 5:48 PM EST up reply actions
Well...
He won the Japanese equivalent to the Golden Glove from 2006-2010, in center field. Got sure if it’s like the US and tied in with offensive, but it’s something.
From scouting reports I’ve read, his a legit center fielder, decent speed, good reads, average arm (lead the lead in outfield assists 3 years in a row).
Fuck Carl Crawford
Nice.
Bloggy might be jumping on board the Mystery Japanese Guy Train!
TOOT TOOT!!
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
OTM | Silver Seven
If that train ticket is cheap enough, TooT TooT.
The highlight video of him is impressive. Great bat, but I don’t think his opposite field power would translate to the mlb.
Hes a contact, on base guy rather than power tho. He was only one of 4 players (one being Ichiro) to get 200 hits in one season. He did it 3 times.
Fuck Carl Crawford
Whuy not ?
That would free up Reddick to be used for trade bait , for a starting pitcher .
He should be trade bait regardless.
We need pitching bad.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
OTM | Silver Seven
Scrap heap until the trade deadline??
I mean, we need pitching pretty bad. Try Kalish there, maybe, if it gets to that. I want Kalish to get regular at bats. If it has to be at the major league level…okay, I guess.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard
OTM | Silver Seven
I just don't feel like Reddick is gonna be that massive a trade chip
If he’ll get us someone good that we can’t get without him, sure.
Highlight Video of Aoki
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-sy-KN_fGo&feature=related
Fuck Carl Crawford
I'm not seeing him hit righty, maybe the articles I read where wrong.
Fuck Carl Crawford
Yep, everywhere i'm seeing just lefty
SBNation had an article about him being a SH but it must have been a misprint.
I'll say it before Sandy does
Can he pitch?
You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way.
-Johnny Cash
Called it.
You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way.
-Johnny Cash
by TheLoneDavid on Dec 12, 2011 7:43 PM EST up reply actions
Scutaro
Hey long time reader first time poster here.
Any way bidding on him is contingent on other teams rumored interest in Scutaro? Seems from the video he’d probably be a nice #9, put the ball in play/long at bats type hitter in the mlb which Marco currently fills for us.
We don't really have anyone to replace Scutaro with.
You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way.
-Johnny Cash
by TheLoneDavid on Dec 13, 2011 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
Scutaro and Aoki play different positions, Aoki wouldn't directly replace him.
We have Lowrie at short, but he has become a major injury risk. The kid can’t stay healthy an entire season to save his life.
Fuck Carl Crawford
Yea I wasn't talking about a direct replacement
More along the lines of where would he fit in the lineup type of thing. It would be Lowrie replacing Scoot at short, but as pointed out Lowrie has become an injury risk. Either way I don’t think either Lowrie or Scutaro have a ton of trade value at this point so it’s probably a moot point anyways.
Yea I wasn't talking about a direct replacement
More along the lines of where would he fit in the lineup type of thing. It would be Lowrie replacing Scoot at short, but
He seemed to have a hittimg pattern
wbich would translate very well to Fenway where he would likely pull righties to the gap and Pens, and put pitches from lefties against the wall and in the corner. He really has an Ichiro presence. His speed and glove would play very well in RF and add another 20SB baserunning threat to Ells/Cc/PD. I am 100% for Reddick/Kalish/Lin over
Beltran/Cuddyer/etc., but Aoki would get my vote for 2012 and as insurance for Boras moving Ells to greenest pasture. Like Darvish, posting fee doesnt apply, and his contract would be reasonable.
by GerryT on Dec 13, 2011 1:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Lefty
The Japanese pro league site lists Aoki as batting left.
Still should place a bid. If he`s not too expensive, he would be a great addition.
by Hallelujah2004 on Dec 17, 2011 11:59 PM EST reply actions
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