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2010 – The Twins announced today that they have reached agreement with Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka to a three-year deal for $9 million that includes a club option for a fourth year in 2014 and officially signs the next day. Last month, the Twins posted the winning bid of $5 million for exclusive negotiating rights with Nishioka. The club had until Dec. 26 to negotiate a deal or it would have gotten its $5 million posting bid back. The switch-hitting Nishioka, 26, hit a Pacific League best .346 in 2010 and posted career highs in on-base percentage (.423), slugging percentage (.482), doubles (32), and triples (8). He can play both shortstop and second base but the Twins are as yet undecided where he will play. Nishioka becomes the first player from the Japanese League to sign with the Twins. Nishioka went on to have a horrendous season for the Twins in 2011 after a tough start when he broke his leg in his sixth game. Nishioka went on to hit .226 in 221 at bats scoring 14 runs and knocking in 19 while stealing 2 bases in 6 attempts. In the field Nishioka had a fielding percentage of .961 as he committed 12 errors. After spending parts of two miserable seasons with the Minnesota Twins, Nishioka requests and is granted his unconditional release from the Twins organization on September 28, 2012.
