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Great breakdown, Doc.
 
For me, it looks like this:
Benefits:
 
- Able to replace black hole at SS (62 OPS+ from Jack Wilson since the trade, 68 OPS+ from Josh) with a decent hitter, which as you say is like replacing a decent player with a superstar. This is the same reason I would look hard at an offensive catcher and would find out about raising payroll to add a V-Mart. In his down year he posted an OPS+ of 122. Moore was 44, Johnson 63 and Bard 77. If you could get me Nakajima and just a 90 OPS+ at SS and 110 out of V-Mart we'd be adding a ton of runs. Victor won't be coming here, I don't think, but Nakajima is gettable if they post him.
 
- Theoretical ability to add payroll for Japanese players is undeniably helpful. If we're on a strict American budget but can flex for Japanese players out of our special "Land Of The Rising Sun" fund, then Nakajima is basically a free acquisition. He wouldn't necessarily be free to keep (nobody's been able to figure out if we really are adding payroll for the Johjimas of the world or if they fit into the hard budget once they get here) but if that flex fund helps offset dumping Jack Wilson for a better option, I'm all for it.
 
- SS is a tough, tough market right now and there aren't a lot of good ones. Being able to add a decent SS in a tough market HAS to be considered a good get, especially if he's (relatively) cheap.
 
Drawbacks:
 
- all the stuff I listed earlier. Bad park for him, probably can't fire him if he sucks, blocks off a position for one of our top prospects (not that I make calls based on that cuz Franklin can still epic fail), new country, et al.
 
Is it worth it?
 
Two years of sub-70 OPS+ numbers from the position would make me contemplate using the Bearded Lady if she could OPS .750.
 
Nakajima is definitely an option - he's just not a slam dunk. Many, many things can go wrong with him. That said, Jack's not getting a year 4 if he loses 95+ again. He's GOT to fix the offense and do it without money AND while breaking in the new kids he plans to build the roster around.
 
Nick Franklin is not A-Rod. He can chill in the minors til 2013 or 14, and might actually need to. In the meantime, Jack needs to fix the 2011 offense NOW, or Franklin's potential success will be some other GM's claim to fame.
 
Give Nakajima a call.
 
~G