Twins Win Right to Negotiate With Tsuyoshi Nishioka

by Josh Alper

Filed under: Twins, International Baseball, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency

The Christmas shopping season officially started on Friday and the Twins didn't waste much time picking up their first item.

Their doorbuster wasn't a discounted television or digital camera, but the rights to sign Japanese shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka as a free agent. They won those rights by having the highest bid in the posting process started by Chiba Lotte Marines, Nishioka's club in Japan. The details of the winning bid haven't been officially disclosed, although Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports that it was for $5.3 million.

The Twins now have 30 days to sign Nishioka to a contract. The A's and Hisashi Iwakuma will tell you that this is hardly an insignificant stumbling block, so it's best not to consider all your holiday shopping done on the first day. Still, there's good reason to think that the Twins are going to make this happen.

 

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