Oakland, CA – The Oakland Athletics signed shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima to a two-year contract on Tuesday.
The deal also includes a club option for the 2015 season.
The 30-year-old Nakajima joins the Athletics following a lengthy career with the Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League, where he was a three-time Gold Glove winner and an eight-time All-Star with a .302 lifetime batting average over 11 seasons.
Last year, Nakajima hit .311 with 13 homers and 74 RBI in 136 games for the Lions.
To clear room on the 40-man roster, the Athletics traded outfielder Collin Cowgill to the New York Mets in exchange for minor league third baseman Jefry Marte.
Cowgill batted .269 with one homer and nine RBI in 38 games over three stints with Oakland last season.
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