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The Oakland Athletics have agreed to sign shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima to a two year deal worth $6.5 million and a club option, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Nakajima played for the Seibu Lions in Japan last season. The New York Yankees won the bid for the Japanese shortstop last winter, but they were unable to reach a deal.
Playing in Japan in 2012, Nakajima put up a stat line of .311/.382/.451. His career statline is .310/.381/.474. This move comes after the Athletics lost their 2012 shortstop in Stephen Drew to the Boston Red Sox earlier today.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports was the first to report that the two sides were close earlier today, while Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle was the first to report the figures. The option year is worth $5.5 million and is a club option for a third season.
Nakajima will likely be the starting shortstop in Oakland despite his lack of Major League experience due to the loss of Drew, but if his numbers in Japan indicate anything it is that he is a very capable player at a high level.
