Report: Angels in serious discussions with Matsui
ByVia Jayson Stark, the Angels are in serious talks with free agent Hideki Matsui, presumably to have him replace Vladimir Guerrero at DH. Brian Cashman‘s made it clear that the team’s priorities this offseason are pitching and leftfield, going so far as to say that it’s easy to find another DH, so Matsui probably didn’t want to sit around and wait. Hard to picture the World Series MVP in another uni, no?
Update (2:40pm): Buster Olney says Matsui will get $6.5M over one year. The Yanks have to match that, right?
Update (3:17pm): Joel Sherman says that the Yanks told Matsui they couldn’t do anything with him until they addressed their pitching and leftfield issues, but Godzilla wanted a quicker resolution. He also mentions that The Halos will give Matsui a chance to play the outfield. Good luck with that.
165 Comments»
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The Mason Williams Watch
That would suck … but its not surprising. It’d feel kind of like Bobby Abreu’s departure, though of course he wasn’t the fixture Godzilla was. Angels always did make the 2nd most sense for Matsui, next to the Yankees.
Angles let their leadoff hitter & Ace leave, but make sure to stay on top of adding an aging DH.
+1
Johnny Damon just heaved a sigh of relief.. as long as Matsui is out there.. the Yanks cud always resign him.. and i believe Cash was only targetting one of the 2… maybe Cash loses a little leverage now..
i don’t think so, because there are still more than enough comparable bats/no field dh types left out there to matsui, so if it was between damon and matsui then there’s no reason for cash to lose any leverage unless there is a dearth of all bat no field dhs all of a sudden
I’d really like to see Hit-deki on our team next year. I dont if I’m being sentimental or what. Or maybe I’m just scared to death of that stupid revolving DH idea.
I’m just scared to death of that stupid revolving DH idea
We all are, or at least should be.
Not matching that would be a mistake.
Agreed.
1/7, it’s yours. Come on home, HazMat.
Please.
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/bas.....elgado.jpg
He’s supposed to be a lousy clubhouse guy. Opposite of Matsui. Matsui is worth more than 6.5 for one year.
Matsui is worth more than 6.5 for one year.
Agreed. Matsui is still my preference.
He’s supposed to be a lousy clubhouse guy.
A) I don’t give a shit.
B) Look at the teams he’s been on. In Toronto and with the Mets, I’d probably be a lousy clubhouse guy too. Being around dysfunction and losing sucks. He’d be fine here. He’d love being on a winning team for a change.
Part B is so true.
Bigger fan of Part A, personally.
Importance of being a good hitter>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>Importance of being a good clubhouse guy
barry bonds = giant water retaining douche
sf giants = much much worse team without barry bonds and came one bullpen disaster away from winning a ws with him the one year they had consistent pitching
hey , any dude who has the world record in pornos owned has got to be the best clubhouse guy ever.
how many does he have? something like 20,000?
Pornsui!!!
http://a1259.g.akamai.net/f/12.....00222.jpeg
Cute nickname. I’m wondering, what are your thoughts on DHs and the relative availability of them?
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....tters.html
Super helpful. Thanks!
Got it, thanks.
no problem…
Whoa that’s hella cheap. Hella.
tbh i’d rather just get damon to dh. he fills the two-hole perfectly and is still a little more versatile, despite the slight offensive dropoff. I could deffinitely deal with Melky in LF if we had a true DH.
A lineup of
Jeter
Damon
Tex
A-Rod
Jorge
Cano
Swisher
Granderson
Melky
would be pretty damn filthy, regardless of which position each of them plays, and a well-rested damon could probably play solid enough defense to allow you to play him in left when someone else needs to DH, which you couldn’t have done w/ matsui. still kinda sucks losing leverage to boras though
A lineup of
Jeter
Damon
Tex
A-Rod
Jorge
MATSUI
Granderson
Swisher
Cano
is better.
But who knows how bad the LF defense would be.
Damon’s offense + defense >>>> Melky Cabrera’s offense + defense
But who
knowscares how bad the LF defense would be.+28
Offense with Matsui and Damon > Defense with Melky Cabrera in LF
A line up of:
Jeter
Swisher (will see great pitches in 2 hole)
Tex
Arod
Matsui
Posada
Granderson
Cano
Byrd
Is more better!!
A) You really don’t need to put multiple exclamation points or question marks at the end of your sentences. It adds nothing to your point and makes you seem a little unhinged. Less is more.
B) Marlon Byrd is not someone you should covet. He’s barely above average. Pass.
And no way does he take a one-year deal!!!!????
(I’m doing it wrong, aren’t I?)
BANGWAGON
i would also like to see someone like derosa mixed in there. i think he would be perfect for the yanks.
1. he could play LF move melky to RF and sit granderson against lefties
2. when Arod needs to DH he can fill in at 3rd
i mean move melky to CF
I think 6.5 mil for 1 year is reasonable. He’s a proven performer – he hits good pitching, he hits lefties as well as righties. He fits the lineup perfectly.
Coming into the offseason, I thought the only 2 ways he wouldn’t return to the Bronx would be if:
1) he wanted to return to Japan
2) he wanted a multi-year deal
fuck that. Get his ass back here.
6.75? Cash don’t be stupid.
you have to match that. how can you not? with the production he has given so consistently and the evidence that dh-ing will take strain off his knees and he will only miss the occasional few games when they need to be drained you cannot let him get away.
This whole Matsui thing was kinda weird.
all during the year you heard…Matsui’s gone…Matsui’s ain’t coming back..this and that. and then suddenly after game 6 he was back in the loop? after Cash kept saying he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about postseason numbers?
i get the feeling the yankees never wanted Matsui back.
Yanks have got to match that Angels offer & why not just go the extra half-million. Unless Cash thinks that Delgado or Thome are cheaper bets to match Matsui’s production , I think Mats at $7 mm is a safe bet.
My guess is that his agent will call the Yanks before anything is signed to see if they want to match.
Match that.
If the Angles beat it -> step on up Nick Johnson.
meh johnson will get a 1b job somewhere. he is a few years away from wily veteran winding down his career willing to take smaller role for chance to win status. he wants to play and get paid. and being a straight up dh behind teixeira is prob not what he is looking for. Maybe after the contract he signs now if his production stays consisten he’ll be in the aforementioned stage.
I’d still rather have Thome or Delgado than Johnson.
One year contracts >>>>>>>>>>> multiyear contracts.
this too
It’d be funny for a couple minutes if Cash’s next move was to follow up Wang’s departure with Johnson’s signing.
Yeah. Thome or Delgado are > Johnson.
It’d be funny for a couple minutes if Cash’s next move was to follow up Wang’s departure with Johnson’s signing.
Cashmeezy: “Well, Wang was kinda beaten up and bruised after all the pounding over the last couple years, we figured it’s better to pull out too early than too late. He just wasn’t getting enough cut on his balls.
We’re real excited to get Johnson, though, he’s still a great stick and he’ll fit right in with the guys. We’ll probably just give him his old helmet back and stick him right back in the #2 hole and let him start plugging away.”
He just wasn’t getting enough cut on his balls.
Cringes. What is that even supposed to mean?
Cut is a synonym for something else. Let your mind wander. Be vulgar.
Maybe this will help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znuwO-bl034 (NSFW)
One year contracts >>>>>>>>>>> multiyear contracts.
Depending on the players involved, of course….
In this case however, flexibility is highly valuable. With 1B locked up for the foreseeable future, you make a good point.
My only aversion to Thome or Delgado is this: if you are going to get one of them, why not just resign Matsui instead?
If the Yankees are just going to let him sign elsewhere for under 7 mil, I have to think Cashman has a plan going to a different route.
i don’t think the yankees wanted him back…flat out. It sounds so disrespectful for the yankees to just bitch slap the world series MVP to the streets.
but thats the feeling you get. They didn’t want him back. Whether it was age…or health…or flex DH. He just wasn’t wanted here anymore.
and mike, the yankees don’t “have” to do anything.
reply fail.
It sounds so disrespectful for the yankees to just bitch slap the world series MVP to the streets.
This: not what is happening
Johnson wants to play 1b. Not DH.
I’d love to see them match that…seems like a no brainer.
But, maybe they really don’t want him back. It’s very possible.
Let’s get it done – Offer Matsui $7 million for one year.
I have complete faith in Cashman. If they don’t re-sign Matsui and/or Damon it will be for good reason(s). I’m very confident that next year’s roster will be better than 2009.
With that said, I still think Cashman signs 2 of Damon, Matsui, or Cameron.
There is no good reason for not matching $6.5 over 1 year.
From where I’m sitting, I completely agree with you. But sometimes Cashman works in mysterious ways.
Yankees probably know more about Hideki’s knees than anyone else. If we don’t match, it speaks volumes about our assessment of his health
Agree completely.
Better use of the roster spot would be a reason.
Letting Godzilla go may give more credence to the idea of a rotating DH that has been proposed.
more credence =/= good idea
unless we’re talking fogerty here
I’m in agreement. I think a guy who primarily DHs is a good thing. I was just saying some folks with the team have brought up the idea of a rotating DH.
If Anaheim’s offer is $6.5M, I can’t imagine this happens soon. 1 year, $6.5M is Matsui’s worst-case scenario.
Unless the Yanks aren’t going to sign Matsui at all, I really doubt he is going to jump all over a 6 million dollar deal without letting the Yanks counteroffer.
WHY!!! MATSUI PLEASE COME BACK TO PAPA!!!
Offer him $6.5M plus one free BlueRay pornagraphic movie of his choice.
My friend directs for Smash Pictures out in LA…I would be happy to send him a similar box of porn that had been sent to me (albeit the dvds may be opened) :/
Do you have a copy of BonerJams ’03?
I get new ones all the time. I just got “Whale Tale #5″ in the mail the other day. Haven’t checked it out yet though. I’ll have to let you all know.
We just became friends. You may not know it yet, but it happened. Oh yeah, it happened.
I don’t understand… so the Angels ARE allowed to sign free agents? But they can’t re-sign their own guys, right?
That team has a 1 way ticket to 3rd place all lined up. Even Haz-Mat couldn’t save them.
In related news, thehardballtimes.com has a good read on the Figgins to Seattle story:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/m.....ns-factor/
To me, I think it’s rather smart of them to largely steer clear of the FA market and the resigning of their own guys. Chone and Lackey will be wildly overpaid, Matsui is better than Vlad at this stage and is on a one-year deal. What’s wrong with any of that? If they can get Matsui on a one-year, $6.5, I’d say it’s a great signing. Brandon Wood may even be better than Figgy, Lackey’s loss will hurt but it’s far too much risk and money to resign him for what he wants. They’d be better off standing pat.
JMHO.
Nah, they don’t. People have been bashing the Angels for being cheap/prospect-obsessed for ages. They still win the division every year.
If (sniffle…) Matsui does end up signing with LA…and he comes to a game at Yankee Stadium that I’m at…I’ll stand tall and clap my hands as loud as I can for him. What a poised individual. I used to be so happy when we needed something big to happen and he was up at the plate…because more often than not…he got it done.
Cashman, I know your priority is LF and SP right now…but don’t be a fool! 1 year and $6.5M??? You paid that to gold plate your toilet a few years back. Don’t make this mistake!!
PLUS….getting your World Series Ring in Yankee Stadium, with the fans going nuts has to be better than receiving it from a delivery man named “Cody”, who works for UPS.
Come home, Hideki. Make it happen Cash Money Trillionaire.
Delivery man = Cody Ransom.
He’ll probably drop it, or throw it over Matsui’s head.
Or he’ll put on a 30 minute box jumping display in the parking lot before actually delivering it
He can only reminisce for a minute, then he has to get back on his route.
OR Cody Lambert
“Duuuuude….Toootalllyyyy”
Ransoms got mad UPS.
I smirked.
Well at least I’m glad that Cody Ransom landed on his feet and got a job in this economy!
Everyone that wants Cashman to match/up the Angels’ offer–Matsui was always your first choice?
Cameron is my first choice. I hope Hideki keeps himself in play, but I’m not about to change my priorities because he is being courted by someone else.
If I can have only one of the Damon/Cameron/Matsui troika, my first choice has always been Matsui.
Yes! I must say I’m impressed…
Me too. Sadly, looks like he’s gone. I hate him going to the Angels. Now I can’t really route for him.
The problem with Matsui over Cameron is this: when mid-season rolls around, and there are suddenly a bunch of bats available as salary dumps, if you have Matsui in the lineup, you can only trade for the outfielder. If you have Cameron, you can get any bat.
The problem with Cameron is this: he probably wants at least 2 years. If so, my first choice is also Matsui (regrettably, though. I would love to see a Cameron-Granderson-Cabrera outfield).
(regrettably, though. I would love to see a Cameron-Granderson-Cabrera outfield).
I’m assuming we just trade Swisher away for a Mark Kotsay or Adam Laroche then?
That’s a good point on the flexibility.
I don’t know how much we’d really be in on salary bat dumps at midseason, though, or who those bats would actually be.
Here’s hoping David Ortiz is one of them!
Seriously, I just like the idea of signing a DH last. Kind of like what Cashman has told Matsui: pitching and left field, and we’ll get back to you. But if you read between the lines, if they actually do add a player for left field, they’re not going to sign Matsui, too.
I get you.
The fact that we have Melky/Gardner/Hoffman on the 40-man, though, makes DH a bigger priority for ME than LF is. But, I see and respect Cashman’s position (if that’s his position).
Damon is my first choice (easily)
Booo!!
[The crowd boos him until he shys away and cowers into the corner]
At least offer him $5.5 million….he’d probably take less to stay here. Don’t blow this one Cash this could come back to haunt us. Espeically losing him to a rival.
At least offer him $5.5 million….he’d probably take less to stay here.
Hmmmmm… no, he wouldn’t.
But Tim McCarver said the only other team that made sense for Matsui was Seattle because of Ichiro! There are no other Japanese superstars on the Angels! I don’t understand!
But they can give him Shigetosi Hasegawa’s locker.
Are the Yankees the mystery 3rd team being mentioned in the Halladay trade? Probably not, but what is the thought of Joba being shipped to Toronto and the Yankees getting Lee – obviously there would be more than just Joba just not sure who else.
I thought about this…but what would the Yankees have to give up for Lee?? I would assume it wouldn’t be any different than Halladay…
probably not but I have not been keeping up on what Toronto’s needs would be that the Yankees could fill besides Joba. Yankees won’t part with Montero, so that is where it gets fuzzy. Keeping in mind that they only need to fill one piece of the puzzle not the whole thing as they would if they directly traded with Toronto.
I haven’t heard anything about this rumored deal. I know none of the specifics or whom would get what.
Having said that, I’m 1000% sure it’s bullshit and will never happen.
Don’t disagree. But was just reading and got me wondering.
My reaction is the exact opposite. The more I read about it, the LESS I wonder about it.
Far + fetched
$6.5M is well below the amount of revenue that he brings in, no?
That’s been debunked. If they take down a Japanese sign, they’ll find 1000 more signs to replace it.
Ah, Thanks. I thought maybe there was some specific revenue streams that he accounted for.
That said, I’d still offer him $7M to stay, and let Damon walk.
You will see in the next day or two Halliday to Phils and Sheets will sign with Yanks. Although Cliff Lee may be available according to rumors ????
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questionmark
I’m Ron Burgundy?
Think the Yanks can edge the Angels out by offering the same amount?
Well if playing LF again is what matters to Matsui, then goodbye. Look forward to the flailing that will be his arms when a C.C. slider whips by. Otherwise he can stay and tee off on Joe Saunders.
According to Mike’s 3:17 update, it looks like Cash is willing to part with Mats.
Make it worth it Cash …. you better have Delgado on speed-dial the moment Sheets signs.
Sheets+Delgado?
Yes. Please.
GUYS!!! CRAIG COUNSELL JUST RE-SIGNED WITH MILWAUKEE!!
Off Topic.
lol. I forgot. John Lackey and Hideki Matsui are virtually the same guy…but Craig Counsell is way off base lol.
By the way, it was a joke. I care about as much about Craig Counsell as I do about my ex-girlfriend.
By the way, it was a joke. I care about as much about Craig Counsell as I do about my ex-girlfriend.
Harry: Yeah, I called her up. She gave me a bunch of crap about me not listening to her, or something. I don’t know, I wasn’t really paying attention.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! THERE GOES OUR WHOLE OFFSEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bye Matsui….
Listen…he didn’t want this to drag out and he wanted to play the OF.
Tip your caps…thank him for everything he did for the yanks…and move on.
No.
Roy Halladay to the Phils
Cliff Lee to the Mariners
Mariners send young players to the Phils
Speculation? Or source it.
Just heard it on 1050 espn radio. Michael Kay show.
What does Toronto get?
Young players from the Mariners and a few from the Phillies.
yeah. what pat said. young players from seattle and philly.
Why are the Phillies trading Cliff Lee? Clear some money? A three-headed monster such as Hammels, Lee, and Halladay would be the best in the league, possibly.
Yeah, I’d have to agree. Hammels isn’t fantastic or anything, so the Giants may be able to match up with them. Lincecum, Cain, Zito vs. Lee, Halladay, Hammels is close, but I think the edge goes to the Phillies.
Boston would be really close too with Lester, Lackey, Beckett. If they sign Lester, I think Lester, Lackey, Beckett, Bucholz, Gyro may just be the best 1-5 in MLB.
H-A-M-E-L-S
Isn’t it humorous that the Hallday to Philly rumor is about as concrete as the Lackey rumor, yet ESPN has nothing about it on its site?
The only thing I can think of is that ESPN does not want to take Boston off of it’s top spot. I never really bought into the Boston-bias stuff, but when FOX Sports is all-Halladay, and ESPN is all-Lackey, it’s hard to ignore!
If Cash is willing to let Hideki go, it might mean they know more about his physical condition than we do.
Knowing what I know, I’d rather he was the DH next year, but for 1yr contract only. But I’m willing to admit Cash knows more than I. Of course, if the Yankees end up with the rotating DH horseshit, then I’ll be ticked….
I wonder how much playing in the outfield next season means to Hideki Matsui.
Prediction, Damon will reject any offer from the Yankees unless the Yankees will over pay.
Matsui will not sign with the Angles, but will re-sign with the Yankees. I don’t believe playing LF is that critical at this point in his career. The pain of bad knees has to be a bigger issue.
Th obvious response is to sign Vlad. He’s younger, and slightly less crippled and, all of a sudden, very homeless and available! The Yanks were becoming a little too lefty anyway especially if Damon comes back.
Saying that Vlad is healthier thatn Matsui is like awarding him the award for best dresser at a nudist colony. If you’re going to replace Matsui, go bolder.
Worst…Idea….Everrr….
Vlad was miserable last season. Matsui was FAR SUPERIOR.
I really hope we stay far-far away from Vlad Guerrero.
Delgado or Thome >>>>>>>>>>>> Vlad
Agreed. Vlad should be no where near an option.
But…
Matsui >>>>>>>> Delgado or Thome
At least IMO.
You: preaching
Me: the choir
The Yanks were becoming a little too lefty anyway especially if Damon comes back.
This point was absolutely moot by the way because Matsui crushes both Lefties and Righties. In fact, he’s even better against Lefties I believe.
Yeah, I can’t imagine the Yankees wouldn’t at least offer Matsui 6.5 to come back for one year. If he approaches his ’09 line, it would be like shaving 6.6 million off the books while retaining your #5 hitter and making your offense deeper. At worst, he’s a guy who is hobbled, but can get a HUGE hit or HITS in a big game/spot that doesn’t cost you a ton in money or years.
Say he gets hurt and missed 3 months. He can still rest up for October and win us games all by himself. The dude produces in the clutch like 2005-style PED-abusing Big Papi.
Joel Sherman also said the Yankees looked into Cliff Lee.
Interesting…
The Yankees, according to the media, look into everyone. And they probably do, but how concrete is it? I’m sure if Lee is available, they had thoughts on it, and it ended there.
[...] other news….Godzilla Matsui is close to signing with the Los Angeles Angels. Did anyone really expect him back in the [...]
So the greatest manager ever is going to try to put his new DH/”LF” on the DL before the end of spring training?
He also mentions that The Halos will give Matsui a chance to play the outfield. Good luck with that.
That’s something Matsui wants? Yikes if I had my knees drained as much as Sui I’d take DH thank you very much.
Agree. Which is really ironic on Matsui’s part because it was not his fielding that landed him.
IMO, this makes Cameron now the clear no. 1 FA target. Matsui was attractive because of his ability to hit lefties and relatively low contractual requirements. With him gone and Damon’s/Boras’ crazy talk, I would start focusing on adding Cameron if I were Cashman.
8 mil for Matsui will get it done. 8 mil for Cameron will get it done and then you can trade melk or gardner for a prospect or 2.
I’m sure Matsui will get his “chance” to play the field in LA….he’ll start one game in LF, then play the rest of the season as a DH.
This is BS…Matusi isnt going to sign with the Angels. This is just another ploy by the Yankees to get the Angels to show their hand and start a bidding war. This is why the Yankees are bad for baseball!
/Halos Heaven’d
Anaheim is getting a professional bat and they need the power. Not going to be easy to replace him.
This is a bummer to me.
I really don’t feel like dealing with the Damon bullshit. I know it’s a business but at some point you have to say enough is enough.
Let Boras do his job and get JD 3 yrs in a baseball oblivion. I hope we jump in and snag Matsui for 7-8 mil but it’s not looking likely.
I come back from school and I find out: We lose our DH/WS MVP to the Angels, Lackey joins the division, Angels lose their ace, Halladay goes to Philly(while probably signing an extension with them) and Lee goes to the M’s.
We lose leverage on Damon so forget him. He wants a 2 year deal or more at 10 M+? Go play for the Giants where you are expected to produce more than you can at your age. Mets are SERIOUSLY screwed. Angels are SERIOUSLY screwed.
By the way, what was Lackey’s WAR? If it’s not more than 8(which I know it isn’t) than the Red Sox are still behind us. We just need to think of some creative solutions for DH. I wasn’t even thinking about him before but I am seriously considering Vlad for DH. Also. Is it me or are the Red Sox starting to look like the Braves of the AL east? All pitch, no bat.
SI.com is saying that the deal is official already. Cashman really dragged his feet on this one – I don’t get why he didn’t want Matsui back. For all he says about giving players rest days, they have nobody who is even a sliver of talent to back up the starters, so the lineup would take a massive hit. If it’s about Matsui’s supposed health problems, I still think he runs the bases better than Posada – he hits better, as well, so unless Posada is playing catcher, he really should just be riding pine.
Sign Cameron and move him to left, and don’t bother with Damon anymore, since he obviously is out of his mind with the offers Boras is proposing. Cameron hits as well as Damon, statistically, and is better in the field.
Seems like Cash is trying to axe all the Asian players off the team; I know he says it’s business, but both Wang and Matsui seemed like relatively affordable, high upside signings (and yes, I mean that I think Wang was worth the 4 million he should have been tendered as – Kei Igawa makes that much anyways).