In bidding $2 million for exclusive negotiating rights to Hiroyuki Nakajima the Yankees were given a 30-day window in which to work out a contract with the Japanese infielder.
The deadline is January 6, so as Bryan Hoch of MLB.com writes: “One way or the other, Nakajima will be resolved next week.”
New York doesn’t have much of a role to offer Nakajima, but expectations for his performance are very low and he might fit best as a utility man anyway. There’s also been some speculation that they could work out a sign-and-trade with another team.
Hoch suggests that the Yankees are likely to put talks with Eric Chavez and other infielders on hold until they have an answer on Nakajima.