Athletics Finalize Contract with Japanese Shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima
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Ezra Shaw/Getty Images(OAKLAND, Calif.) — The Oakland Athletics finalized a two-year, $6.5 million contract with the Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima.
Through 11 seasons playing for the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions, the 30-year-old Nakajima hit .302 with 162 home runs and was an eight-time All-Star.
“The more things we uncovered the longer we got into the winter, the more we realized this was the guy,” Athletics general manager Billy Beane said. “We were a little concerned early on the competition might make it challenging for us financially. But as pieces started laying down with other clubs and positions were filled, I think that helped us.”
The signing of Nakajima fills the void created by the departures of Stephen Drew and Cliff Pennington.
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