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Unfounded Rumor: Kaz Matsui

By Tim Dierkes [November 28, 2007 at 10:44am CST]

UPDATE, 11-28-07 at 10:45am: Buster Olney says talks for Matsui are indeed picking up, and the Cubs are in the thick of things. He notes that if a team is dead set on acquiring a left-handed hitting middle infielder, its options are limited. It's possible the Astros are still talking to Matsui.

FROM 11-28-07 at 8:30am:

Since last night, about a dozen people have emailed me about a supposed Denver radio station report. This report purportedly claimed Kaz Matsui had signed with the Cubs for three years and $14MM.

However, none of the emailers had actually heard the report with their own two ears. Details are slim - no one knows who actually said it on air. While the rumor sounds reasonable, it may be made up or a contortion of the truth. It may also be accurate - we don't know yet.

One sign that the hot stove season has officially kicked in is the spreading of unverifiable radio rumors. These are slippery because they're very difficult to confirm but have an air of authority to them. That makes radio rumors easy to fabricate and spread around the 'Net. I've also seen many cases where radio personalities were clearly speculating, but a few games of telephone later and they were talking about actual offers.

All that said, radio reports have value when verified. For instance Bruce Levine of ESPN Radio 1000 out of Chicago scooped everyone on the Kerry Wood and Scott Linebrink signings.

Full Story | Comments (15) | Categories: Chicago Cubs | Kaz Matsui | Unfounded Rumors

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Posted by: plh903 | November 28, 2007 at 08:51 AM

Phil...you are killing me. Hendry's interest in Kaz has a Lou Piniella interest written all over it....

I think it went something like Lou watching the playoffs and WS...and being like, "Hey, I like that guy. He has speed...I like guys with speed. I'll call Jim and tell him to get it done."

Posted by: Aduncaroo | November 28, 2007 at 09:27 AM

This would also pretty much signal the Cubs are done with another Patterson...which would be a shame. Patterson could be better than Kaz as early as...well, now.

Posted by: Aduncaroo | November 28, 2007 at 09:31 AM

I know. Nothing would make me happier than Lou having the kind of sway to turn the entire roster into 2B types with "speed," which is apparently what is happening.

Posted by: plh903 | November 28, 2007 at 10:02 AM

as much as i wish it was true, i dont think it is... it has been almost two hours since the rumor. If he was officially signed, we would know by now.

Posted by: glberns | November 28, 2007 at 10:05 AM

Actually it's been 15 hours since I first got an email referencing the supposed Denver radio station report.

Posted by: Tim Dierkes | November 28, 2007 at 10:16 AM

Tim, is there anyway you can post on here what Buster Olney said in the link you provided? I tried clicking it but it will only let ESPN Insiders view it. Thanks.

Posted by: Brian | November 28, 2007 at 10:51 AM

Seriously, how many middle infielders does one team need?

The way the country is set up, it seems the big West-Coast market (LA teams) is stockpiling mediocre CFers to go with the big East-Coast rivalry markets (NY & Bos) already stockpiled ageing LF/1B/DH types, and now the Big-Central market is trying to horde all the light-hitting middle infielders?

…I’m so confused…

Posted by: darkstar1661 | November 28, 2007 at 11:30 AM

As an Astro Fan I hope your cubs do land him, cause I'd rather have Iguchi anyway. $$14 million for a guy who hit like .235 away from Coors Field, and please tell me what did he do in the World Series??

Posted by: mitch4ya | November 28, 2007 at 11:34 AM

If the Cubs do sign Matsui and fail to sign Fukudome, ...epic failure.

Posted by: Game555 | November 28, 2007 at 11:39 AM

ok, well, brian... currently the cubs have DeRosa, Theriot, ummm.... Fontenot is a good fielder, cedeno is garbage. so two good ones, keep in mind they also have a shortage of OF. DeRo can play right.

if this deal goes through, i would expect dero to go to right and kaz to play 2b. maybe fukudome to play center? i dont know what he plays

Posted by: glberns | November 28, 2007 at 12:01 PM

I'm pretty sure Matsui is going to play short stop if he gets signed. The Cubs would be stupid if they were looking at him for 2nd base.

Posted by: Game555 | November 28, 2007 at 12:42 PM

so are the cubs trying to corner the market on mediocre middle infielders now?

Posted by: trober81 | November 28, 2007 at 12:44 PM

I can hear Jim Hendry getting fatter and the Cubs getting shittier.

Posted by: Teetz | November 28, 2007 at 01:25 PM

How can you hear sombody get fatter?

Posted by: mattsters | November 28, 2007 at 10:31 PM