Former teen sensation and defensive wunderkind -- and current low-contact bench option -- Andruw Jones is heading to Japan on a one-year deal. NikkanSports has the news, but NPB Tracker has the translation:
Andruw Jones signs with Rakuten Golden Eagles
They play in Japan, you know.
Nick Laham
Nikkan Sports is reporting that the Rakuten Golden Eagles have agreed to a deal with a bari bari Major Leaguer, veteran Andruw Jones. Nikkan Sports estimates the value of the deal at JPY 300m ($3.5m or so) including signing bonus, base salary, and performance bonuses. An official announcement is expected after Jones takes a physical.
“I’m not sure how to put this, sir, but during the physical we found that ... well ... he’s kind of big now.”
Jones is one of the biggest names to ever go across the Pacific to play in Japan, so it will be interesting to see how his all-or-nothing power translates over there. Manny Ramirez was rumored to be interested in the NPB last season before signing with the A’s. Jones hit .197/.294/.408 for the Yankees over 233 at-bats in 2012.
And because this is required by Internet law, here is part of the Google translation of the NikkanSports report:
Rakuten new alien was a big game ridiculous. 434 career home runs major and boasts a most in all foreign players who came to Japan in the past. Also repeated this 1933 career hits. This season has hit a home run with the Yankees 14, unquestionably, it’s a major leaguer crunching active duty. History is full of glorious record.
It’s funny because the words are in an order that you wouldn’t normally expect!
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