SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners continued their offseason makeover by finalizing a $5.5 million, one-year contract with free agent outfielder Nori Aoki with a mutual vesting option for the 2017 season.
Seattle announced completion of the deal after Aoki passed an extensive physical. The sides had agreed on a deal pending the exams, which took place Thursday morning. The physical was closely watched after an injury-filled 2015 season for Aoki in San Francisco.
Aoki can make another $1.5 million in performance bonuses. Aoki’s option for 2017 can be exercised if he hits certain playing time benchmarks in 2016 and would be worth $6 million.
Aoki was limited to 93 games due to a broken right leg and a severe concussion in the second half of last season. San Francisco, which turned down a $5.5 million option on Aoki last month, said Aoki was healthy and that the injuries did not play a role in the decision to decline the option.
MARLINS: President of baseball operations Michael Hill said ace Jose Fernandez isn’t on the trading block as the team prepares for next week’s winter meetings.
The Marlins aren’t eager to part with outfielder Marcell Ozuna either, Hill said, but they do want to reinforce their rotation, which may require trading a position player.
BLUE JAYS: Toronto hired longtime Indians executive Ross Atkins as its new general manager.
Atkins, who worked as Cleveland’s player personnel director, will join former Indians president Mark Shapiro – a close friend – with the Blue Jays.
Atkins succeeds Alex Anthopoulos, who left the Blue Jays shortly before Shapiro took over the AL East champions.
NATIONALS: Randy Knorr will return to the Washington Nationals as senior adviser to the general manager for player development after being let go as bench coach when Matt Williams was fired as manager the day after the season ended.
CUBA TOUR: Joe Torre and Dave Winfield will be leading a baseball goodwill tour of Cuba this month.
Major League Baseball and the Players Association said Thursday the Dec. 15-18 trip will include children’s clinics and a charity event. It will be the first MLB visit to Cuba since the Orioles played an exhibition game against the Cuban national team in 1999.
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