Astros second baseman Kaz Matsui is in the final season of a three-year, $16.5MM pact signed in December of 2007. Matsui's flat start combined with the strong play of Jeff Keppinger has led to the two men splitting time at second. One has to imagine that Matsui will find himself relegated to the bench if he cannot boost his .214 OPS in the near future.
Of course, putting a player set to earn $5MM on the pine is rather wasteful. However, drumming up a market for the native of Japan may prove to be difficult. After a solid campaign in 2008, Matsui hit just.250/.302/.357 in '09. Fangraphs estimates that his play last season was barely worth more than half of what he earned as his defense was also pedestrian.
If Matsui can get back to his 2008 form, could the Astros find a taker for him without absorbing the majority of the money he is owed?
“If Matsui can get back on track, could the Astros find a taker for him without absorbing the majority of the money he is owed?”
Not a chance!
.214 OPS. Wow thats bad
28 at bats.
My assumption is that Matsui will head back home to Japan, where he is a star, once his contract is up; he may even be released before the end of the year. I do think he has some value, because he’s a slightly above average defensive second baseman, but new manager Brad Mills seems to prefer Jeff Keppinger, who is getting the majority of the playing time at second base.
Holy poop. How do you post a .214 OPS?!
See above: 28 at bats. Tiny sample size? Doesn’t everybody’s team have at least one bench player who has some ridiculously low or ridiculously high OPS at this point?
100% agreed.
-Zach
Coming from an Astros fan – Is anyone surprised Kepp is playing better than Matsui? The dude never strikes out. Kaz is always hurt & hasn’t lived up to his one solid season with the Rockies since he came to Houston. He’s old and doesn’t play well, the sooner we can dump him the better.
cut him
Tell that to the 2004 “Next” cover of ESPN the magazine