Matsui Interest From Angels, Red Sox

» 11 November 2009 » In mlb »

The Hideki Matsui hot stove is warming up. Let’s see what the Japanese media has for us out of the GM meetings…

  • Boston is reportedly considering Matsui as an alternative to Jason Bay. According to an insider quoted in Nikkan Sports, the BoSox are preparing a multi-year offer for Matsui to be the team’s regular left fielder.
  • The same Nikkan Sports article quotes a “no comment” from Jack Z on Matsui, and mentions the White Sox as another option.
  • Daily Sports has some comments from Tony Reagins on Matsui: “At this point we’ve been watching him for a long time. When I ask ‘can he play the outfield and keep runners from advancing?’ the response I get is ‘of course’. He can’t go every day, but he can play defense.” Still, Matsui profiles as a plan b for the Angels as well. “We aren’t thinking of Matsui and (Vladimir) Guererro play together.”
  • The Hanshin Tigers are no longer interested in Matsui, citing his desire to remain in MLB.

Given that Matsui is “best of the rest” type candidate, it may take some of the other free agent DHs and left fielders signing before he finds a home. My non-Yankee picks for him remain the Orioles, White Sox and Mariners.

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  1. Patrick
    simon
    11/11/2009 at 11:44 am Permalink

    Saito was on a rather cheap contract but the Sox didn’t pick up the option, and now they want him back as an FA. What am I missing here?

  2. Patrick
    Patrick
    11/11/2009 at 11:52 am Permalink

    Saito racked up a bunch of performance bonuses and his option is for (I believe) $6m. He’s 39 and has had some elbow issues in the recent past, so I could see the Red Sox wanting to bring him back at $3-4m rather than $6m.

  3. Patrick
    James
    11/11/2009 at 11:56 am Permalink

    The Angels could certainly use another left handed bat, but are more likely to sign Vlad to DH than Matsui. Both represent back up plans pretty far down on their list.

  4. Patrick
    simon
    11/11/2009 at 9:06 pm Permalink

    Ah I see. For a team with lots of money, that seems like a cheap move. Then again, all the little bits of millions add up to tens of millions, I guess. And the truly rich are really cheap. Wonder if anyone will make Saito a better offer, considering that he seems to have recovered fully, and is still quite effective. He surely shouldn’t have any loyalty to the Sox.

  5. Patrick
    Patrick
    11/11/2009 at 10:11 pm Permalink

    The Dodgers non-tendered him last year rather than risk paying him $5m or so in arbitration.

Trackbacks

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