Time to talk

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOKYO -- The Milwaukee Brewers have won the right to negotiate a contract with Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki.

Aoki's team, the Yakult Swallows, said Sunday it had accepted the Brewers' bid of US$2.5 million under the posting system.

The Brewers have 30 days to work out a deal with the 29-year-old Aoki, a three-time Central League batting champion.

Aoki batted .292 with four home runs and 44 RBIs in 144 games for the Swallows this season. He has a career batting average of .329 in eight seasons, all with Yakult.

Aoki is the only player in Japanese professional baseball to have had two 200-hit seasons.