The A?s moved quickly on to their backup plan after losing out on Stephen Drew, signing import Hiroyuki Nakajima to take over at shortstop, according to FOXSports.com?s Ken Rosenthal and others. The San Francisco Chronice?s Susan Slusser reports that it?s a two-year, $6.5 million deal with a $5.5 million option for 2015.
Nakajima, 30, hit .311/.382/.451 with 13 homers and 74 RBI for the Seibu Lions last season, finishing second in the Pacific League in both average and OBP. He was fourth in slugging percentage.
The Lions originally posted Nakajima last winter, with the Yankees winning his rights, but he opted to return to Japan for another year rather than accept a modest offer and a utility role in New York. He was a free agent this time around.
Nakajima?s signing should complete a flexible A?s lineup, which might look something like this:
LF Coco Crisp ? S
CF Chris Young ? R
DH Yoenis Cespedes ? R
RF Josh Reddick ? L
3B Josh Donaldson ? R
1B Brandon Moss ? L
C Derek Norris ? R/George Kottaras ? L
SS Hiroyuki Nakajima ? R
2B Jemile Weeks ? S/Scott Sizemore ? R
Alternatively, Nakajima or Weeks could hit second and bump Young down to fifth if either impresses in spring training. Also, there will be plenty of movement around the outfield, with Cespedes getting lots of starts there, and Seth Smith is still around as a DH against right-handers.
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