The Angels and free-agent designated hitter Hideki Matsui have agreed on a one-year contract. The deal is worth slightly more than $6 million. The agreement was first reported by The New York Times.
This one hurts a little bit. It’s going to be very, very weird to see Hideki in another uniform giving his customary nod to the umpire. After 7 years and a 124 OPS+, Hideki is no longer a New York Yankee. Sad.
But sentiments aside, this is a steal for the Angels. A one-year deal at $6 mil+ is a bargain for a hitter of Hideki’s quality, and you really have to wonder what the Yankees were thinking on this one. Yes, the Yankees have higher priorities than filling their DH position, as they’ve said, but that doesn’t mean you completely ignore your other positions of need. Ever hear of multi-tasking? Even at his age and with his problematic knees, what’s not to like about Hideki at $6 mil for a year?
Right now, we’ll give the Yankees the benefit of the doubt. They must have another DH solution targeted if they were willing to let this blue light special pass them by (at least we hope). Nick Johnson remains our first choice.
Word is that Hideki will be moving to a home in the San Fernando Valley.
36 Comments
Brian December 15, 2009 00:21
Johnson and his career .402 OBP (even higher the last few years) would be amazing in our lineup
JJ December 15, 2009 00:23
Easily one of the better photoshop jobs done in a while. Spot on.
Howard Zinn December 15, 2009 01:05
You’re Welcome.
MTK December 15, 2009 01:23
Photoshop is a excellent and hilarious choice- my buddy from Japan says Matsui is a NOTORIOUS Porn aficionado. We called him Captain Porno, affectionately of course. . . spot on!
LeonS December 15, 2009 01:53
Nice of David Wells to help him with that!
byron December 15, 2009 02:03
that other man is Way to fit to be david wells.
Dave December 15, 2009 03:15
I simply can’t imagine how in any reasonable faction the Yankees can fall asleep at the wheel when Matsui could have been had cheap and short term. Isn’t that the best possible scenario for our World Series MVP with bad knees?
JoeThunder December 15, 2009 06:14
Matsui will be missed. The Angels got a bargain. I guess Vlad is out in LA.
Butcher December 15, 2009 08:04
This surprises me that the Yanks weren’t in on this one. It must mean there’s a plan to sign another bat. Holliday? DH Swisher? Melky to RF?
What do you guys think?
Ron December 15, 2009 08:38
Please let it be Holliday. There will be some stud pitchers in the AL East to contend with.
stickq December 15, 2009 09:08
Although, I think it is sad to see Matsui go, I think it was the right move. Having him and Posada back to back on the base paths was frustrating this season, they were the slowest running duo on one team in the majors. The DH spot should be given to Jorge Posada and we should utilize our young catching talent by next seasons end. This would save Posada so we can get a few more years out of him and we should restrict him to at most 80 games behind the plate.
With that said we could easily get at bats for the other half of the games from our other infield players with regular rest or another idea would be to look within the team at two candidates in spring training: Juan Miranda and Shelley Duncan. Miranda hit very well in AAA last year and has power from the left side of the plate that could bode very well in Yankee Stadium. Duncan, although high strong, hit just about 30/100 last year cementing his status of professional minor leaguer or AAAA player of the year… we have to do something with him, and his bat you’d think would eventually translate.
I just think it would have been very short sided to spend any money on a player that has no knees and can’t play in the field. Also, even though I am opposed to signing Noodles aka Johnny Damon, Matsui’s contract just lowered Damon’s asking price significantly because on this team he is a DH.
LeisureSuitLarry December 15, 2009 09:12
The good ol’ clogging the bases argument.
DCR December 15, 2009 09:15
Duncan isn’t even on the Yankees anymore.
stickq December 15, 2009 09:53
Ah, alas I did miss that Duncan was a free agent, I missed the memo on 11/25 (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091125&content_id=7717516&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb)…. Good luck to him then. I say give Miranda a shot at it in spring training and let him split time there with Posada and also be able to rest Teix at 1b when he needs it.
DCR December 15, 2009 09:58
The more I think about this the more annoyed I get. Matsui took almost half his salary for one year to play for the Angels. If the Yankees are trying to cut payroll and get good production then this is exactly the type of contract they should be looking at. What gives?
Rapp December 15, 2009 11:19
they need to free up the DH spot for Posada swisher and others that need a day off. Damon also if he signs.
Butcher December 15, 2009 11:29
I’d rather have Bay in LF than Damon…IF…Damon doesn’t come down on his ridiculous demands…and the demands are INSANE at this point. He should be getting about 2 yrs 20 million.
LeisureSuitLarry December 15, 2009 11:38
Bay is one of the worst defenders at any position in all of baseball. Pass.
greg 23 December 15, 2009 11:43
1 year 6 mil, thats a shame that Yanks couldn’t atleast match that. Don’t sleep on Jermaine Dye a Cashman favortie.
wexy December 15, 2009 11:46
Everyone was guessing that he was going to the Mariners.
Oh well.Domo Arigato.
We will miss you.
Steve December 15, 2009 11:57
Holliday ain’t coming to the Yanks. The Cards offered him 8 years. Time to let go.
Nate December 15, 2009 12:28
Matsui must have taken a “Simi Valley discount”. No way that guy isn’t starting a production company in the adult entertainment field.
MyTriState Yankees December 15, 2009 12:34
think the Yankees passed on Matsui because he can’t play the field anymore; its tough to have a one dimensional guy like that on the bench, and it’d be nice for the Yankees to get more athletic for a change. And Posada is probably 80-100 game catcher at best, so lets do some math here and assume Posada makes 50 starts as the DH, ARod makes 10, that’s 6 games right there, guys with minor injuries taken out of the field is probably good for another 10 DH starts and you dont hear anyone else offering Damon a deal AND the Yankees really seem to want him back, and he’s probably not able to play in the field every day… those DH starts for regular guys are going to add up quick!
Zero December 15, 2009 14:03
I wonder if the Yankees even got this offer from Matsui. This could be a spiteful signing from some insulted Jap ego bullshit because the Yanks didnt step up with a big offer right away.
Butcher December 15, 2009 15:18
I don’t know about passing on Bay now. Holliday is not an option based on that contract.
Who’s a worse fielder Bay or Damon? I’d have to guess Damon. I’d rather pay 2MM a year and get Bay then a over the hill Damon.
MyTriState Yankees December 15, 2009 15:18
Zero – you mean like when Andy Pettitte signed with Houston bc of some insulted texas ego BS?
LeisureSuitLarry December 15, 2009 15:25
Bay is one of the worst defensive players at any position in all of MLB. Cameron is arguably more valuable than him.
Trev December 15, 2009 15:30
Bay while being a bad defender is no worse than Johnny Damon. I think either would be perfect for the DH spot with the flexibility to move them into LF whenev you want to use that spot for Posada, Arod, Jeter, etc.. If they’re asking for similar money I think Bay is the obvious choice talent wise, though Johnny is a great “character” guy. Character only matters if you’re winning though, so I say at this point go for Bay if Johnny doesn’t agree to a normalized deal.
Of coarse Matt Holliday would be better than both.. but more expensive obv
Butcher December 15, 2009 15:38
Someone has to tell Damon he’s crazy and to take a decent deal from the Yanks. I know Boras thinks the guy’s going to play another 20 years…so Damon’s air filled melon is probably so focused on him being in monument park soon.
yoyo December 15, 2009 16:33
I can’t recall where but I saw that JD was really interested in piling up counting stats for a run at the Hall. Sorry JD, 3000 hits and other assorted milestones is simply not going to get you there. You’ve been a very good player for a long time, with probably a little bit left in the tank (esp if limited to DH for 50%+ of the time) but you’ll NEVER be a HoF. Mark my words.
AndrewYF December 15, 2009 22:30
3000 hits doesn’t get you into the Hall Of Fame? Craig Biggio will be crushed.
JeffG December 15, 2009 22:39
The Yanks are pinching their pennies this offseason to stick to their budget. Hopefully we will work out something with Damon and I think we try to add Sheets and then I’d guess we are done. I am a little pissed to see Matsui go at the price he went at without us making an offer but that is the new way Cash is approaching things.
Yanks with a budget… sucks. Makes me hate the new stadium now that I know that they aren’t leveraging it to build a bigger better team. I just hope they don’t pay Jeter 20+ next year and still try to keep the payroll under 200.
Ender December 15, 2009 22:55
A-rod shouldve just paid $7 Mill to Hideki to hit behind him . I dont fancy Cano (with his RISP #’s) or a 40 y/o Posada in the 5 hole.
Butcher December 16, 2009 00:08
There’s no way that JD Drew even sniffs 3,000 hits. He’s 34 years old and plays what 120 games a year?
3,000 hits is auto lock for the HOF in my opinion. 500 HR’s not so much now.
Jay December 16, 2009 01:59
JD = Johnny Damon not JD Drew, Butch
Butcher December 16, 2009 06:56
My bad. Too late for me to be up.