The A’s have signed shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima to a 2 year deal worth 6.5 million dollars. Nakajima had stat lines of .311/13/74/.382/.451/.833 with the Seibu Lions of Japan’s Pacific League. He has played his whole career in Japan. Last season Nakajima was posts and won by the Yankees but they could not come to terms on a contract.
The A’s like the offensive numbers that Nakajima put up in Japan. Nakajima is a lifetime .310 hitter with 104 home runs and 514 RBIs in Japan. Oakland is hoping that these numbers transfer into success in the MLB.
The Astros have signed pitcher Jose Veras to a 1 year deal worth 2 million dollars. Veras appeared in 72 games with a 5-4 record and a 3.63 ERA for the Brewers last season. He was demoted from the Brewers’ 40-man roster and elected free agency instead of going to the minor leagues.
Veras will be used in a middle relieve role with the stros. He is a workhorse out of the bullpen appearing 70+ games in each of the last 2 seasons. This is the Astros second move in as many days. Yesterday the club agreed to terms with 1B-DH Carlos Pena on a 1 year contract.