According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the agent for Japanese infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima has approached the Yankees’ decision-makers about their interest in executing a sign-and-trade.
It’s a strategy that is seen more often in the NBA than MLB, but it might make sense in this case.
The Yankees won the rights to Nakajima earlier this month with a $2 million posting fee, but they can’t offer him much in the way of playing time next season and probably can’t even guarantee him a spot on the Opening Day roster. If another big league club steps forward with interest in the 29-year-old, the Yankees could work out a quick contract and then ship him off to a new organization.
Nakajima posted a .297/.354/.433 batting line with 16 home runs, 100 RBI and 21 stolen bases this past season for the Seibu Lions. He is a .302 career hitter in Nippon Professional Baseball.
If no other big league team wants him, Nakajima will likely head back to his native Japan.