The Rays announced that they designated Hideki Matsui for assignment to create roster space for newly-acquired infielder Ryan Roberts. They now have ten days to trade Matsui, release him or place him on waivers.
The Rays signed Matsui to a minor league deal in April and he appeared in 34 games with the team. The 38-year-old posted a .147/.214/.221 batting line with two home runs in 103 plate appearances.
That’s too bad although the end has to come for everyone at some point. Loved him in New York-classy guy, played hard.
I can’t see him fitting with any other teams nor being any real upgrade based on the #s he’s been putting up.
I say he signs a one-day deal with the Yankees and retires.
Yeah, a bit overdue, but glad it’s finally done.
Best news all day for Rays fans. They could have been marching James Shields out there as DH and got more production.
Call me crazy (and I am), but if he can still play in the field at all, the Pirates could really, really use someone off the bench with some pop. I know his numbers absolutely stink this year, but 103 plate appearances isn’t a full season. I will readily admit that I have not seen him play this year, so it is very possible that he is done and has nothing left to offer anyone.
You’re crazy.
Over his last 94 AB’s with TB, he had a 0.332 OPS. In 38 AB’s this year, Pirate pitcher James McDonald has a 0.396 OPS. Matsui is done.
He was outmatched by 85mph fastballs down the pipe. Trust me, as someone who suffered through every at bat, you don’t want him. Likely he knows it too and will just retire now anyway.
Thank you all for the feedback. That’s a shame, then. I always have like the way he plays the game, and if he can’t get it done anymore, I hope he gracefully steps away from the game.
I can’t help but think that this may be geared towards the rumored Shields for Bourjos/Conger deal. Perhaps they put Bourjos in CF and put the worst-fielding remaining OFer at DH?
There is no way in hell the Rays don’t allow Upton to finish the season in CF. It’s the position he’s played for the Rays and if (and sadly it will probably happen) he leaves, the Rays FO would ultimately give him his time left with the team in centerfield.
They should trade BJ Upton because they aren’t resigning him.
On the off chance that the Rays do trade for Bourjas, that means they’re also going to unload Upton. They’re looking to do so anyway, but if they acquire Bourjos it only makes that decision easier.
They just traded for Roberts and needed a roster spot, hence the DFA. If he was the least bit productive he would have been the temporary DH until Scott came back, but he was nothing more than a liability.. For now, Keppinger is going to DH until Scott comes back as Roberts takes over 3B. The Rays can’t lose his bat, but he has no position to play..
Besides that, Matsui was just plain terrible and offered nothing other than pinch hit strikeouts in the 9th. That trade may still happen, but this move was because Matsui was awful and nothing more.
I’m not to big on Bourjos.
Sometimes, you just gotta know when to quit.
Oh Come´on .147 isn´t a bad AVG. …
for a RP XD
This is probably the end for Hideki Matsui…his skills have simply diminished beyond return.
He was killing the Rays in their recent series against my Mariners. Why they kept trotting him out there in crucial AB’s I don’t know but he looked pathetic out there. That series alone was enough for anyone to see that Matsui needed to kindly step away from the game. Sad end to a good career.
Finna-friggen-ly. This guy was an abomination. Thank god.
Hideki Matsui should get one more opportunity to help out the Seattle Mariners after trading Ichiro to the Yankees by signing Matsui to a minor-league contract in AAA-Tacoma. He would be great on a team w/ pitcher Iwakuma and infielder Kawasaki. He will be back to his form from a year ago w/ the Oakland Athletics or few years back w/ the Angels hopefully to help the young team for rest of this season so they can look up to him for the future.
I agree with everything stated
That might actually be a really good move for the Rays. Soriano’s never been an OBP guy, but the Rays don’t generally score runs by that theory anyway.
I don’t like the potential cancer in the clubhouse. He’d only play the field part-time, too.
I don’t think you realize that Soriano is a funny guy in the clubhouse and has been the most improved player this season defensively.