Seven-time Nippon Professional Baseball League all-star Hiroyuki Nakajima was just signed by the Oakland A's from Japan for two years and $6.5 million. Why did he come to Oakland, though?
Well, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, its because Nakajima thinks Oakland GM Billy Beane is "extremely sexy and cool."
These are the sorts of things you can't make up, sports fans. As to how Nakajima said it -- as a joke, maybe through an interpreter -- we're unsure at the time. But maybe that's why the A's let Stephen Drew walk after the half-season he spent there... he must not have had the same feelings for Beane. But someone in Boston's front office must've had the hots for Drew to give him almost $10 million, for cryin' out loud. Nakajima is one year older than Drew, has never faced these pitchers in the US, and gets signed for not one, but two years and $3 million less altogether. I digress...
Anyway, at the press conference, Beane made sure to make his shortstop feel right at home, telling Nakajima that the sexy and cool feeling was a mutual one. As to how it will help the defending AL West Champions, no one knows, but team chemistry can go a long way.
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