Twins get rights to Tsuyoshi Nishioka

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Quote:

The Minnesota Twins have won the right to negotiate with 26-year-old infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka on a major league contract, Nishioka's Japanese League team announced Friday.

The Chiba Lotte Marines were notified of the highest bidder following Wednesday's deadline and revealed Friday that the Twins won the bid. Lotte did not disclose the amount, but the Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported the Twins' bid was around $5 million.

Nishioka led Japan's Pacific League with a .346 batting average this season and had 206 hits, becoming the first Pacific League player to get 200 hits since Ichiro Suzuki. He led the Marines to this year's Japan Series championship.

"I feel honored to be bid by MLB club and am extremely excited," Nishioka was quoted as saying Friday. "I appreciate that Chiba Lotte gave me this opportunity."

The Twins have 30 days to work out a deal with Nishioka. If no agreement is reached, the Marines will not receive the reported $5 million fee.

[JBMasterAngler]

Wouldn't it have just been cheaper and safer to keep O-Hud?

[zamboni]

We have to pay his Japanese team $5Mill just to be able to negotiate with him? I am in the wrong business

[bucketmouth64]

I hope he's worth the money, 5 mil plus his contract. That seems a bit steep, but I have a feeling the team has done its homework on him. To outbid large market teams we must see something other teams don't which is a typical Twins move. Surprised Yanks didn't outbid everyone with Jeter's status with the team up in the air.

[Wildabeast]

Looks like an interesting move - switch hitter, decent power from the right, good middle infield (SS, 2nd), much younger than O Dog.

[Juneau4]

People complain when the Twins spend money, some complain when they don't spend money. Some Japenesse players become stars, some don't.

[SledNeck]

This is a HIGH rick HIGH reward signing

Hopefully he works out for us. Shows that the Twins are serious about spending to win.

[Ybone]

The Twins are looking for more speed. There's a good chance that Casilla and Nishioka will be the middle infielders next season.

[zamboni]

People complain when the Twins spend money, some complain when they don't spend money. Some Japenesse players become stars, some don't.

I don't mind them spending money on players contracts- but to hand another team $5 million just to talk to them- WOW. 5 minutes into the discussions they can say "No, gimme our $5 million" and they would get it. Crazy

[jwmiller33]

if the twins dont sign him in 30 days, we get our $5.3 mil back

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Would be sweet to have our own version of Ichiro on this team.

[zamboni]

if the twins dont sign him in 30 days, we get our $5.3 mil back

Ahhh mis read it- still- crazy

[Juneau4]

Not really. It gives a ball club the opp. to sign him. It's just the rules they play by. They got rid of Punto, his salary covers this cost.

[SledNeck]

if the twins dont sign him in 30 days, we get our $5.3 mil back

poor zamboni

[jwmiller33]

i would MUCH rather have the twins spend $5 mil to be able to negotiate with a switch hitting, high average SS/2B who is 26, rather than the twins pay nick punto another $5+ mil for another season of 88 games played batting .230

[Ybone]

Basicly they are making a trade, cash for a player. It sounds like a great deal considering draft choices get big signing bonuses and most never make it to the bigs. 5 mil is pretty low risk for a player with that much potential. The Trib says they should be able to sign him for around 3 mil a year for 3 years.

[nofishfisherman]

I'm glad they are at least trying to improve and are willing to spend a little to do it. I don't see it as much different then dealing with a #1 draft pick. You have to pay big money to someone who may or may not work out. At least this kid has done it before against other professionals (granted in was in Japan), its better than judging a players potential when they are playing against high school kids that won't even go on to play in Junior College.

This kid will cost us in the range of $14-15 million over 3 years if you include the $5 million for his rights. What does a 1st round draft choice sign for these days?

[mrklean]

i like to see them gambling a little but i see big changes for this roster for 2011. My guess is he will not go to minors he will be right to the roster where a first round will probably be in the minors for awhile.

[DonBo]

i like to see them gambling a little but i see big changes for this roster for 2011. My guess is he will not go to minors he will be right to the roster where a first round will probably be in the minors for awhile.

I believe if they sign him, he will HAVE to go on the 25 man roster.

[Coach1310]

for the record... the Red Sox paid $53 Million to negotiate with Matsuzaka....

The nice thing about Nishioka is he is a lot younger than most Japanese players who come over to the MLB. He has good speed and some decent power. His numbers really spiked this year and I have heard experts say they project him in the .290 range for average with around 30 stolen bases. The Twins are saying they will play him at second and I've heard some terms thrown around in the 3 year/$15million range for a contract. I like the deal because, like has been mentioned, the Twins don't spend $$$ without doing their homework and WE NEED SPEED. I like O-dog, but until he quits looking like a 50 year old with his injuries, he can head on down the road..... I am interested to see how Casilla fits in this whole deal.... If they part with Hardy, that makes Casilla our every day shortstop....

[ANYFISH2]

He is ours! A three year deal to be announced tomarrow. It sure would be nice to have a high average hitting middle infielder again.

[DonBo]

I doubt that his .365 Japan ave. will be any better than .280 here, but that still ain't bad. Be nice if can steal some bases though.

[B. Amish]

i really hope this guy works out. could be a disaster this year if he doesn't do well.

[ted4887]

I think that this guy will actually come over and do pretty well. There is a huge American presence in Japanese baseball right now. I also think that we will see some other Japanese superstars come over in the coming years. I expect to see a .300 avg and ~30 steals. It will definitely be an improvement. Although I do think we are going to lose some defensive skills in the middle infield for the first year he's over here.

[mrklean]

glad he signed now we need to get our pitching up to par with all the bats we should have

[dfv87]

Sounds like the 4PM presser to announce him... Star Trib said 15 reporters from japan are waiting for him to arrive. Sounds like a good player and will likely fit in our style of play. Some people are saying he is a weaker fielder but has one a gold glove at short and 1 at 2nd so I am not sure how to take that info...

[MinnesnowtaWild]

The Twins seem to have been losing more than they have gained. This is a good signing, but still he is unproven in the MLB and Hudson was a pretty good 2nd baseman. Hardy was steller at SS and now he's gone. Our bullpen is disappearing and Pavano is a question mark.

[Juneau4]

Twins have lost 4 infielders over the winter and have only acquired 1 thats unproven at the major league level.

They need a utility infielder- who is going to fill that role?

[mrklean]

Pavano wont be back, someone is gonna toss big money at him and we will be stuck with nothing

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Yep so basically we are downgrading in every department for next season. I know the Twins management seems to pull some good signings out of nowhere right near the start of spring training, but so far it's not looking good.

The only thing that is an improvement is the fact that we might actually have Morneau and Nathan for the entire season.