Nakamura sent to minors, may consider returning to Japan
Sam Sloan 4 April 2005 01:48:34
LOS ANGELES, April 3 (Kyodo) - Nakamura failed to make the Los Angeles Dodgers' Opening Day roster on Saturday and the Japanese infielder is considering a move to another club with an option to return to Japanese baseball.
The Dodgers assigned Nakamura, who signed a minor-league contract on Feb. 3, to Triple-A Las Vegas after Saturday's preseason exhibition game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Dodger Stadium.
Nakamura singled to center in his only at-bat of the game and finished spring training with a .295 average with three homers and eight RBIs in 20 games. The 31-year-old insisted that the stats should be convincing enough to make his case.
''I tried my best possible effort and I did do my best to a degree where I can say I have nothing left to be done,'' said Nakamura, who joined spring training as a non-roster invitee.
''I want to talk to my agent and decide what to do next,'' he said, noting he will consider playing back in Japan if he receives an offer from a Japanese team.
''If I have to go to Triple-A, I want to be there without quibbling. I'm at a loss and maybe I won't be able to sleep tonight out of frustration,'' Nakamura said.
According to a report on the Dodgers website, Nakamura will notify the club on Sunday whether he will accept the minor-league assignment.
Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta and manager Jim Tracy said the decision was designed to make room for the 12th pitcher on the roster and give Nakamura opportunities to face various types of pitchers rather than being kept on the bench in the majors.
Tracy added he hopes Nakamura will keep himself prepared to play in the majors in case the Dodgers reduce their pitching staff to 11 men during the regular season.
Nakamura joined the Kintetsu Buffaloes of the Japanese Pacific League in 1992, and won two batting crowns with 39 homers and 110 RBIs in 2000. A year later, he drove in 132 runs to capture the league's RBI title for the second straight year and helped guide Kintetsu to its first league title in 12 years.
In 2004, Nakamura was limited to 105 games and 19 homers with a .274 average in an injury-plagued season. In November, he announced a decision to play in North America citing the merger between Kintetsu and the Orix BlueWave as the decisive factor behind his decision.
Nakamura backed out of a tentative two-year, $7 million deal with the New York Mets before the 2003 season and opted to re-sign with Kintetsu.
