Nori Aoki, who struggled against the Giants’ pitching staff in the World Series, won’t have to worry about facing San Francisco this year.
The 33-year-old outfielder finalized a one-year, $4.7 million with the Giants on Monday. The team holds a $5.5 million option, with a $700,000 buyout, for 2016. The option can become a mutual if Aoki reaches a certain amount of playing time in 2015.
If he obtains all his incentive bonuses, Aoki reportedly can earn as much as $12.5 million over the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Aoki, a right fielder last year for the Kansas City Royals, figures to take over as San Francisco’s regular left fielder. The Giants lost left fielder Michael Morse, who signed a free agent deal with the Miami Marlins last month. San Francisco right fielder Hunter Pence never takes a day off, and center fielder Angel Pagan is expected back after missing much of the 2014 season with injuries.
Aoki hit .071 (1-for-14) with a single and one RBI as the Giants topped the Royals in a seven-game World Series. In 14 postseason games last fall, Aoki batted .195 with a .292 on-base percentage, a .195 slugging percentage and three RBIs.
Aoki batted .285 with a .349 OBP, a .360 slugging percentage, one home run, 43 RBIs and 17 steals during the 2014 regular season.