Jays interested in Japanese shortstop?
By BOB ELLIOTT, QMI Agency
|
  
|
|
DALLAS - Agent Don Nomura tweeted Monday of the Blue Jays’ interest in Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima of the Seibu Lions.
Nomura, who represented Hideo Nomo, Hideki Irabu and other Japanese players, wrote in Japanese: “I heard that the Blue Jays won the posting for Nakajima. Is it true? I could be wrong.”
Only the commissioner’s office of Major League Baseball and the Seibu Lions know which team has won exclusive rights to negotiate with Nakajima. A decision is expected Tuesday or Wednesday.
Nakajima hit .297 with 16 homers and 100 RBIs in 144 games for Seibu this year.
Could the Jays ask Nakajima to play second base as the Minnesota Twins did with Japanese import shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka? Nishioka was injured early, only played 68 games, and hit .226 compared to .340 with Chiba Lotte.
What if Kelly Johnson accepts salary arbitration?
Right-hander Yu Darvish still has not been posted by the Nippon Ham Fighters. The Jays are not a fan of the posting process.
