Hideki Matsui took two days off (January 20, 21) from training due to poor weather.  He was back to working out again on Sunday.

"I did not set a schedule [for my workouts].  I do what I can at the time.  If it rains, I stay at home and sleep.  I just need to be more or less ready to play baseball in about a month when Spring Training begins," said Matsui.

On Monday, he worked out in the rain.

"The sun was out in the morning.  I was tricked.  But I am ok, no problems."

Matsui plans to continue his workouts in Japan until he can secure a work visa, which means he will not be heading to the US until he signs with a team.

Via Nikkan Sports, CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler reports (and tweets) that the Detroit Tigers are interested in Matsui.

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Via Nikkan Sports, The Associated Press has additional details on Norichika Aoki's contract:

• base US$2.25M with a max US$8,187,500 if the Milwaukee Brewers exercise his 2014 option AND he starts 140 games and plays 150 per season.
• he will make US$1M this year and US1.25M next year.  The Brewers hold a US$1.5M option for 2014 with a US$250,000 buyout.
• he can earned US$1,675,000 in performances bonuses this year and US$837,500 next year.  If his 2014 option is exercised, he could earn up to US$1,087,500 in performance bonuses.  Bonuses will be based on starts (100-140) and games (70-150).

Kosuke Fukudome returned from his training session in Hawaii on Friday and said to reporters, "This is not really something I can worry about.  I will consider [options] as my agent handles [the rest]. ... Baseball players earn their keep by playing in games.  Playing in games is the most important thing. "

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Norichika Aoki's contract could be worth a max $8,606,250 over three years (incentives/bonuses), according to a tweet by CBSSPorts.com's Jon Heyman.

Aoki is scheduled to workout in Okinawa for about a week, beginning as early as today.

Sponichi has posted the following comments taken during Norichika Aoki's press conference on Friday:

Negotiations [with the Milwaukee Brewers] came down to the wire...

The wait made me feel anxious.  It felt long.  I was really worried about whether or not we would have a deal.  I got a call about five minutes [before the deadline].

There are some that say the terms were a bit low...

The amount may have gone down, but my desire to [play in the Majors] has not changed.  Getting to the start line is important.  I see this as getting my foot in the door.

You were assigned the number seven...

I see it as a number that players with speed wear.

What kind of player do you want to be?

I want to think about what the team needs and then try to fill those needs.  That will also tie into more playing time.  I feel that if I think about what I can do to help the team, it will allow me to become a unique player.

Will you ever return to play in Japan?

I feel I will not be able to well if I think about the future.  I want to put 120% effort into the things that are in front of me right now.

[Yu] Darvish will also be heading to the Majors...

We will be in different leagues, so we may not have a lot of opportunities, but it would be nice if we could face each other some day.

UPDATE @ 2:05pm - Nikkan Sports has a slightly different set of comments from the press conference.

What are you thoughts right now?

I feel like I have finally made it to the start line.

What about your uniform number?

It is the number seven.  I imagine players with speed wearing it.  This will be the first time I have worn this number.

What kind of player do you want to be?

I want to become a unique player.  The type you can not find anywhere else.  I am a player with out and set shape.

Will you have a press conference?

I returned because my agent said I did not need one.  I brought along a suit to wear, but it got wrinkled over the two weeks I waited.

Are you studying up on Milwaukee?

Beer, right?  Munich, Sapporo, Milwaukee.  Do they have all you can drink Miller beer at Miller Park?  There is also Harley Davidson and Lake Michigan.

Have you spoken to Takashi Saito?

I hear it is a nice place to live.  I also heard the fans are friendly and the stands are always full.

Norichika Aoki returned to the Japan on Thursday and said to reporters, "I am relieved to have finally made it to the starting line.  My stay in the US felt long."  Aoki is scheduled to hold a press conference in Tokyo today.

And the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt provides this update on Aoki's contract (via Nikkan Sports):

I don't know the details of the many incentives included in the deal, but the contract that Japanese OF Norichika Aoki signed with the Brewers this week guarantees salaries of $1 million in 2012 and $1.25 million in 2013.

That's probably less than most folks figured, but the more Aoki plays, the more he'll make with the incentives. There's also the matter that the Brewers paid a $2.5 million posting bid with the Yakult Swallows merely for the rights to negotiate with Aoki. 

There's also an option and buyout for 2014, but I don't know what those figures are yet.

Hideki Matsui spoke to reporters on Wednesday and said:

This is not something limited to just the New York Yankees, because it makes me happy anytime a team [says they are interested].  Although I am not really sure if they have contacted my agent. ... I would of course like to sign my Spring Training.  But there is still about a month to go.  I think it will fine.  I am not even worried."

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Via Nikkan Sports: NESN's Didier Morais provides the following update on Daisuke Matsuzaka:

As Valentine surveyed the area, he also found Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and is likely to miss the first half of the season. The two exchanged New Year's pleasantries -- in Japanese, of course -- but Valentine left encouraged by the visit.

"He's doing really well," Valentine said. "He had a good look in his eye."

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Nikkan Sports mentions that Norichika Aoki will hold a press conference in Japan on 1/20.  Sponichi adds that Aoki probably signed for about US$1.5M a year, or about half of what he made in 2011 (from 330M yen to 115.5M yen).  With incentives (based on the number of games he plays/starts), the two-year deal could be worth around US$5M (or 385M yen).

Aoki is the fifth Japanese player to join the Milwaukee Brewers' organization: Hideo Nomo (1999), Takahito Nomura (2002), Tomokazu Oka (2005-2006), and Takashi Saito (2011).

Aoki will begin working out in Okinawa next week.  And while the Brewers would like to introduce him at FanFest on 1/29, nothing has been finalized due to possible visa timing issues.

The Milwaukee Brewers announced that they signed Norichika Aoki to a two-year deal with a club option for 2014.  From an official press release:

The Milwaukee Brewers today signed outfielder Norichika Aoki to a two-year contract with a club option for 2014.  The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin.

Aoki will be introduced to the media at a date and time to be determined.

UPDATE @ 9:39am - Sponichi mentions that the deal could be for around US$1M - 1.5M a year.  A separate Sponichi report notes that Nez Balelo may have convinced the Brewers to bid for Aoki by telling them that he was a quality player that would not be expecting a lot of money.

According to Nikkan Sports, Hiroki Kuroda turned down a two-year deal worth an estimated US$22M from the New York Yankees and instead opted for a one-year deal worth an estimated US$16M.

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Via Nikkan Sports, the Milwaukee Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt provides the following update on Norichika Aoki:

The Milwaukee Brewers have exchanged contract proposals with Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki, but general manager Doug Melvin said Saturday it was too early to tell if a deal could be worked out before the Tuesday deadline.

"We've made an offer to him and he gave us a proposal back," said Melvin, who has been negotiating with Nez Balelo, the agent for Aoki.

"That's where it's at. We're evaluating it. We're going to look at this vs. the other options out there with outfielders. We're still negotiating and exploring other options."

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Eric Wedge told reporters on Sunday that there was a chance Hisashi Iwakuma might pitch during one of their two opening day games against the Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome in March (3/28 and 3/29).  When asked about Munenori Kawasaki, he said he wanted a chance to see him during Spring Training before making any decisions.

Wedge, Ken Griffey Jr and Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin attended a press conference for Opening Series Japan 2012 at Tokyo Dome today.

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Sponichi notes that Don Nomura may have left for the US on Sunday and could be headed to Texas on Monday with Arn Tellem.  A separate Sponichi report also notes that the Texas Rangers will not be able to match everything Yu Darvish is asking for and that ultimately, it will come down to how much he wants to play in the US.

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Deadlines:

Norichika Aoki - 1/17 at 5pm EST (1/18 at 7am JST)

Yu Darvish - 1/18 at 5pm EST (1/19 at 7am JST)

MLB.com's Adam McCalvy has the following update on Norichika Aoki:

There have been varied reports about Aoki's salary last season, but the Brewers' understanding is that he earned less than $3 million. If the club moves forward with negotiations, Melvin would much prefer a one-year deal to see how Aoki's skills translate to the Major Leagues.

Aoki would no doubt prefer a multi-year deal for making the move to the U.S., a common request for players shifting their careers from Japan. As of the start of this offseason, all eight of the players who were posted and signed with Major League teams since the current system was implemented in 1998 received multi-year contracts (though three others inked Minor League deals). The most recent position player is shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka, who drew a bid from the Twins that topped $5 million and agreed to a three-year, $9 million contract.

Amongst the people that attended the workouts: Brewers GM Doug Melvin, Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio, manager Ron Roenicke, bench coach Jerry Narron, batting coach Johnny Narron, director of pro scouting Zack Minasian, and special assistant Dick Groch.  Nez Balelo, an interpreter, and two other people accompanied Aoki.

Nikkan Sports, Sponichi mention that the workouts started at around 10:30am and included playing catch, long toss at about 90 meters, fielding in center with throws to third, and BP (32 swings with two shots going over the fence).

Aoki will continue his training in Los Angeles until about mid-January, leaving open the possibility a negotiation might be reached while he is still in the US.

The Brewers have until 1/17 @ 5pm (or 1/18 at 7am) to finalize a deal with Aoki.

Ichiro Suzuki worked out for about two hours at Hotto Motto Kobe on Sunday.  He later spoke to reporters and said he never imagined he would be able to play on the same team as Hisashi Iwakuma.  Ichiro then added that he looked forward to standing on the same field, wearing the same uniform, as Munenori Kawasaki and Iwakuma.

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Daisuke Matsuzaka played catch for the third straight day on Saturday -- 30 throws at a max distance of about 30 meters.  This was apparently the first time Matsuzuaka played catch three days in the row since his surgery.

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Norichika Aoki's workout with the Milwaukee Brewers lasted 90 minutes according to Sponichi and 75 minutes according to Nikkan Sports.  Eight Brewers' officials watched over Aoki -- team owner Mark Attanasio also reportedly dropped by.

A separate Sponichi report notes that Aoki took 32 swings during BP and even hit one over the right field fence and was flawless during fielding practice.

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Via Nikkan Sports: FOXSports' Ken Rosenthal has posted a statement released by Greg Genske, explaining why Hiroyuki Nakajima did not sign with the New York Yankees.  A snip of that statement:

Out of respect for the Yankees and for the process, we engaged in discussions, but it became clear that this was not a good fit at this stage of his career. Nakajima's decision had nothing to do with money; he just didn't feel that he would be using his abilities to the fullest and helping his club to the maximum extent possible in the role that the Yankees envisioned for him.

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If Yu Darvish signs with the Texas Rangers, travel agency H.I.S. is interested in putting together a travel package for fans.

Sponichi reports that the Texas Rangers are interested in Hiroki Kuroda.  Sponichi speculates that they might be looking for a sixth starter in case Yu Darvish joins the team.

And Jon Heyman tweeted on Saturday that Kuroda will probably cost between US$13-14M.

hear asking price for kuroda is $13-14M salary. some teams not convinced he will play in the states. could go back to japan

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Hideki Matsui told reporters on Saturday that he has started his workouts, that he has maintained his weight at about 100kg, and that his knees were feeling good.

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Daisuke Matsuzaka played catch for the second day in a row on Friday -- he threw the ball about 30 times at a distance of around 18 meters.  He threw the last five pitches at around 130km/h.  If he continues to make good progress he could be cleared to toss a bullpen session around January 20th.  And if he does not suffer any setbacks, he might be able to make it back to the MLB roster in May, instead of the original June/July estimate.

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Via Nikkan Sports: MLB.com's Adam McCalvy has posted the following update on Norichika Aoki:

Roenicke, bench coach Jerry Narron and hitting coach Johnny Narron will attend the one-day affair with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, director of pro scouting Zack Minasian and his predecessor, Dick Groch, now a special assistant to Melvin. So will two Brewers officials who spend most of their time at Maryvale: special assistant and player development director Reid Nichols and his top assistant, Tony Diggs.

They will watch Aoki take batting practice off the coaches, they will hit him fly balls and gauge his throwing arm and they will time his running speed.

Nikkan Sports notes the workout is scheduled to take place Maryvale Baseball Park on Sunday (US time).

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Sponichi brings up Scott Boras' idea (here, here, and here) for a new type of system to replace the current posting system (taken from a NY Times article posted in December):

Boras suggested a sliding scale whereby Japanese players can negotiate with any team and their Japanese teams would receive a percentage of the contract. For instance, if a player leaves after one year, the Japanese team would get 80 percent of the contract, 50 percent after five years and 20 percent with just one year remaining before free agency.

"A lot of Japanese players aren't successful here because they aren't comfortable in their situation," Boras said. "If they could choose where they want to play, their success rate would definitely increase."

The Japan Professional Baseball Players Association is continuing to brainstorm other ideas to replace the current posting system, like the one where the top three bidders get a chance to negotiate.  Don Nomura has also suggested imposing fines on teams that win bids but do not sign players to contracts (for example, 20% of the posting fee).