Twins Win Right To Negotiate With Japan's Nishioka
TOKYO (AP) -- The Minnesota Twins have 30 days to sign Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka after submitting the highest bid for his negotiating rights.
The Chiba Lotte Marines announced Friday they had accepted the bid for the 26-year-old Nishioka.
If no agreement is reached, the Marines will not receive the fee.
The deadline for bids was Wednesday.
Nishioka led the Pacific League with a .346 batting average this season and had 206 hits, becoming the league's first player to get 200 hits since Ichiro Suzuki.
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