ˈæftɚ ðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɪks sˈiːzən ˈɛndᵻd, ˈændi bɪɡˈæn ɐ lˈɔŋ sˈɪɹiz ʌv nᵻɡˌoʊʃɪˈeɪʃənz wɪððə həkˈeɪdoʊ nˈɪpənhˈæm fˈaɪɾɚz, hˌuː hæd dʒˈʌst wˈʌn ðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɪks dʒəpˈæn sˈɪɹiz bˌʌt hæd lˈɔst stˈɑːɹ mˌɪtʃɪhˈiəɹoʊ ˌɑːɡɐsɐwˈɑːɹɹə tə fɹˈiː ˈeɪdʒənsi ænd aʊtfˈiːldɚ tsuːjˈoʊʃi ʃˈɪndʒoʊ tə ɹᵻtˈaɪɚmənt.
After the 2006 season ended, Andy began a long series of negotiations with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, who had just won the 2006 Japan Series but had lost star Michihiro Ogasawara to free agency and outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo to retirement.