Yakult Swallows accept $2.5 million bid on OF Norichika Aoki

The Yakult Swallows have accepted a $2.5 million posting fee for outfielder Norichika Aoki, Yasuko Yanagita of Hochi Shimbun tweets. Which team bid the $2.5 million on Aoki is not yet known. Whichever team it is will have 30 days to negotiate with Aoki, who will turn 30 next  month. The Mets, Nationals and A’s have all been rumored to be interested in Aoki.

The three-time Central League batting champion hit just .292/.358/.360 in 2011, but was a career .336/.411/.472 in his first seven years. He is one of just four players to collect 200 hits in a season in Japan, joining Ichiro Suzuki, ALex Ramirez and Matt Murton.

Aoki is a left-handed hitter, throwing right-handed. He won three Gold Gloves earlier in his career, but his throwing arm could limit him to left field in MLB. Aoki appeared for Japan in both World Baseball Classics, earning All-Tournament honors in 2009, when he played left and batted third for Japan.

via Swallows accept $2.5 million bid on OF Aoki – CBSSports.com.