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The Twins, perennial non-factors in the free agent market, have won the bidding on Tsuyoshi Nishioka and will now have 30 days to sign him. No one really expected the Twins to be in on the bidding, and certainly no one expected them to win it. Even though the rumored price of $5 million is fairly low, that seems quite pricey for the Twins despite their ability to raise payroll past the $100 million mark thanks to Target Field. Nishioka hit .346/.423/.482 last year as a 26 year old, but there are concerns over his inflated BABIP and the fear that he is simply Kaz Matsui II. He’ll already be shifting over from short as the Twins are planning on playing him at second base according to Jon Paul Morosi. Kaz Matsui did have some value from mid 2006 through 2008 and combined with less than inspiring middle infield options on the market, this was a good time for the Twins to enter the international marketplace. What it comes down to is the Twins are picking up a player who fits pretty well into their setup: he’ll play solid defense at second base, hit very few home runs, but will add some speed into a lineup that was getting very sluggish. (Photo via Hitting the Foul Pole)

The Twins, perennial non-factors in the free agent market, have won the bidding on Tsuyoshi Nishioka and will now have 30 days to sign him.

No one really expected the Twins to be in on the bidding, and certainly no one expected them to win it. Even though the rumored price of $5 million is fairly low, that seems quite pricey for the Twins despite their ability to raise payroll past the $100 million mark thanks to Target Field.

Nishioka hit .346/.423/.482 last year as a 26 year old, but there are concerns over his inflated BABIP and the fear that he is simply Kaz Matsui II. He’ll already be shifting over from short as the Twins are planning on playing him at second base according to Jon Paul Morosi. Kaz Matsui did have some value from mid 2006 through 2008 and combined with less than inspiring middle infield options on the market, this was a good time for the Twins to enter the international marketplace.

What it comes down to is the Twins are picking up a player who fits pretty well into their setup: he’ll play solid defense at second base, hit very few home runs, but will add some speed into a lineup that was getting very sluggish.

(Photo via Hitting the Foul Pole)

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