Share Video
Link copied!
Top Norichika Aoki News
-
Norichika Aoki: Returns to Japan on three-year deal
Aoki agreed to a three-year deal with the Yakult Swallows of Japan's NPB, the Japan Times reports.
He played for five MLB teams over the past three years, and understandably opted for security this winter over possibly settling for a minor-league deal in 2018. Aoki has a career .285/.350/.387 slash line with 33 home runs and 98 stolen bases in 759 MLB games.
... See More ... See Less -
Norichika Aoki: Released by Mets
Aoki was released by the Mets on Monday.
Aoki, who is arbitration eligible, would have been due a sizable salary, so the Mets decided to part ways with the 35-year-old and search elsewhere for outfield help. He spent time with the Astros, Blue Jays and Mets last season, compiling a .277/.335/.393 line with five homers and 10 stolen bases in 110 games (274 plate appearances). Aoki will now hit free agency and search for a new destination.
... See More ... See Less -
Mets' Norichika Aoki: Not in Wednesday lineup
Aoki is out of the lineup against the Braves on Wednesday, MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reports.
Aoki will receive a typical day off following 10 starts in the last 11 games, including an 0-for-3 day at the plate Tuesday. Travis Taijeron will take over in right field in his absence, while batting seventh in the order.
... See More ... See Less -
Mets' Norichika Aoki: Out of lineup Friday
Aoki is not in the starting nine for Friday's game against the Braves.
Aoki retreats to the bench for the series opener following five straight starts in right field. Travis Taijeron will take his place while batting seventh in the order.
... See More ... See Less -
Mets' Norichika Aoki: Settling into everyday role in right field
Aoki will start in right field and bat second Monday against the Phillies.
Season-ending injuries to Michael Conforto (shoulder) and Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring) have thinned the ranks in the outfield, allowing Aoki to emerge as the Mets' preferred option in right field over Travis Taijeron. Aoki, who signed with the Mets on Saturday in the wake of the injuries depleting their depth, will draw his third consecutive start after impressing in his first two appearances with the club with four hits and two RBI over nine at-bats. Since Aoki is a 35-year-old player bound for free agency this winter, the Mets don't have much of a commitment to getting him regular at-bats, so if his offense ends up slumping later in September, Taijeron could get another look in an everyday role.
... See More ... See Less -
Mets' Norichika Aoki: Signs with Mets
Aoki signed with the Mets on Saturday, and will join the team in Houston this weekend, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
With New York's outfield in a state of flux for the time being as both Michael Conforto (shoulder) and Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring) are going to miss the rest of the season, Aoki figures to see a decent amount of action moving forward. He is also under team control through 2018, so this gives the Mets a little more wiggle room as to how they want to shape their outfield next season. During 83 big-league games between Toronto and Houston this year, Aoki hit .274/.319/.402 with five home runs and 27 RBI.
... See More ... See Less -
Mets' Norichika Aoki: Leading off in second game of doubleheader
Aoki will start in right field and lead off in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Astros, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The 35-year-old will make his debut with the Mets, his third different team this season, after being released by the Blue Jays earlier in the week. Aoki hasn't done much of note this season, but he can still hit at a useful clip and he figures to play at least semi-regularly with both Michael Conforto (shoulder) and Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring) out for the rest of the year.
... See More ... See Less -
Norichika Aoki: Cut loose by Blue Jays
Aoki was released by the Blue Jays on Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Aoki, who was designated for assignment earlier in the week, is now free to sign anywhere. The 35-year-old is slashing .274/.319/.402 with five homers and five stolen bases in 83 games this season. Given his previous big-league experience, Aoki could catch on elsewhere as a reserve outfield option.
... See More ... See Less -
Blue Jays' Norichika Aoki: Designated for assignment
Aoki was designated for assignment by Toronto on Monday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Aoki went 3-for-4 with a home run Sunday against the Twins, but that wasn't enough for him to avoid being DFA'd. Since being acquired by the Jays on July 31, Aoki has played in just 12 games, going 9-for-32 (.281) with eight RBI. In a corresponding move, Leonel Campos was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.
... See More ... See Less -
Blue Jays' Norichika Aoki: Starting in left Sunday
Aoki is starting in left field and batting eighth Sunday against the Cubs.
Sunday will mark Aoki's second start in the team's last 11 games. The 35-year-old's playing time has been cut into since going just 3-for-17 (.176) over his first eight contests with the Jays. With Aoki in the lineup, Steve Pearce hits the bench for his weekly day of rest.
... See More ... See Less -
Blue Jays' Norichika Aoki: Returns to starting nine Thursday
Aoki (illness) is batting atop of the order and playing in right field for Thursday's series finale against Tampa Bay, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Aoki has been battling an illness for the better part of the last week, but he's set to make his first start since Aug. 9. Since July 25, Aoki has played in just nine of 21 possible games, and is hitting .143/.174/.286 during that span.
... See More ... See Less -
Blue Jays' Norichika Aoki: Unavailable with illness
Manager John Gibbons said Aoki was unavailable for Thursday's game due to an illness, Mike Wilner of Sportsnet 590 The Fan reports.
Aoki is dealing with an extremely high fever, and he may not even be at the stadium for Thursday's series finale. Consider him day-to-day for now, while the Blue Jays work with a limited bench of Ezequiel Carrera, Raffy Lopez and Darwin Barney.
... See More ... See Less -
Blue Jays' Norichika Aoki: Homers against former club
Aoki went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Sunday's loss to Houston.
This was Aoki's first start with the Blue Jays, and he went yard against his former club. Aoki should see occasional starts with Toronto, but with a .271/.320/.382 slash line, he isn't a viable fantasy option in most settings unless he's locked into the starting lineup daily.
... See More ... See Less -
Blue Jays' Norichika Aoki: Starting in left Sunday vs. Houston
Aoki is starting in left field and hitting eighth for Sunday's game in Houston.
Aoki will take over in left to give veteran Steve Pearce a rest. Sunday will mark Aoki's first start since coming over to the Jays from Houston via a July 31 trade.
... See More ... See Less -
![]()
-
![]()
-
Blue Jays' Norichika Aoki: Shipped to Toronto
The Astros traded Aoki and a minor-league player to be named to the Blue Jays for Francisco Liraino on Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The Astros are clearing up their outfield with this trade. Aoki is batting .272/.323/.371 with two homers and five stolen bases over 224 plate appearances, but for a club intent on adding Derek Fisher to its everyday outfield, Aoki didn't fit. It'll be hard for him to wrestle much time from scorching Blue Jays outfielder Steven Pearce, but AL-only players will likely get at least one start out of Aoki per week if they need deep outfield help.
... See More ... See Less -
Astros' Norichika Aoki: Lunches three-run blast in loss
Aoki went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and two runs scored during Sunday's loss to Baltimore.
Aoki isn't receiving consistent playing time, so his fantasy value is limited to deep settings. Additionally, this was just his second homer of the campaign, and his .280/.329/.376 slash line isn't providing much impact when he's in the lineup. Still, being attached to a high-end offense has appeal and will help Aoki modestly tilt the scales in the RBI and runs columns.
... See More ... See Less -
Astros' Norichika Aoki: Clutch double in Sunday's win
Aoki went 2-for-3 with a two-run double in Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Twins.
Aoki's big hit in the fourth inning turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead that Houston would never relinquish. The AL-leading Astros continue to get contributions from up and down the lineup, as Aoki did his damage while batting eighth in this one. His .271/.322/.343 line suggests a move up in the order likely isn't in the cards.
... See More ... See Less -
Astros' Norichika Aoki: Out again Saturday
Aoki is not in the lineup for Saturday's contest against the Yankees.
Aoki sits for the third straight game as the Yankees face southpaw Jordan Montgomery. The outfielder did get to try his hand at pitching during Friday's blowout loss, but remains out of the starting lineup for the second game of the series while Marwin Gonzalez draws the start in left.
... See More ... See Less
Player Bio
| HT/WT: 5-9, 180 lbs |
| Birthplace: Hyuga City, Miyazaki, Japan |
| Age: 42 |
| Experience: 6 |
| Bats/Throws: L, R |