Royals Acquire Norichika Aoki
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/royals-acquire-norichika-aoki.html
By Steve Adams [December 5, 2013 at 10:02am CST]
The Royals have acquired outfielder Norichika Aoki from the Brewers in
exchange for left-hander Will Smith, the Brewers have announced via press
release.
Aoki, 32 next month, enjoyed his second solid season with the Brewers since
coming over from Japan. The lefty swinger batted .286/.356/.370 with eight
homers and 20 stolen bases. Though his power numbers dipped in 2013, the
former NPB batting champion has a solid .287/.355/.399 line in his two Major
League seasons to go along with excellent right-field defense (+4.2 UZR/150;
+21 DRS). He comes at a highly affordable rate also, as the Royals exercised
a cheap $1.9MM club option on Aoki following the season. He is a free agent
following the 2014 campaign.
Aoki's acquisition would seem to call Kansas City's pursuit of Carlos Beltran
into question. The Royals had reportedly been one of the front-runners to
land Beltran (if not the front-runner), but unless they plan on shifting Aoki
to center field, his presence in right field and Billy Butler's presence at
DH make it more difficult to see Beltran fitting into the plans.