The Padres have signed left-hander Yuki Matsui to a five-year contract, the club has announced. Matsui and the Padres were reportedly close to a deal earlier this week. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that Matsui will receive $28MM guaranteed over the life of the contract, which includes opt-outs after the third and fourth seasons of the deal as well as an injury clause that can convert the fifth year of the contract into a club option worth $7MM if Matsui suffers a “serious” elbow injury during the life of the contract.
The deal represents San Diego’s first significant buy-side move of the offseason, and their first major move since trading star slugger Juan Soto and center fielder Trent Grisham to the Yankees earlier this month for a five-player package headlined by right-handers Michael King and Drew Thorpe. It’s a somewhat unusual deal for a reliever; right-hander Robert Suarez’s agreement with the Padres and the record-breaking deal between star closer Edwin Diaz and the Mets, both of which were signed last offseason, are the only contracts for free agent relievers to surpass five years.
Matsui landed at #43 on MLBTR’s annual Top 50 MLB free agents list, where we projected him for a two-year, $16MM deal. Matsui nearly doubled that guarantee, though the average annual value of his deal comes in at just $5.6MM, well below the $8MM MLBTR projected him for over a two-year apct. Despite the unusual length of the deal, the gamble is an understandable one for the Padres to make. The deal covers Matsui’s age-28 through -32 seasons, with his first opt-out opportunity coming after Matsui’s age-30 campaign in 2026. The lowered AAV of the deal was surely particularly appealing to the Padres, who are reportedly hoping to stay under the luxury tax in 2024. Given those financial constraints, Matsui’s deal represents a more cost-effective alternative to reuniting with relief ace Josh Hader, who MLBTR projected for a whopping six-year, $110MM guarantee on the heels of a dominant season as San Diego’s closer.
While Matsui can’t be reasonably expected to match Hader’s incredible production last season (1.28 ERA and 33 saves in 56 1/3 innings), the lefty has put together an excellent career overseas in his own right. Matsui’s spent the past ten seasons pitching for Nippon Professional Baseball’s Tohuku Rakuten Golden Eagles. During his NPB career, Matsui has racked up 236 saves in 501 appearances while earning five All Star nods. In 659 2/3 innings of work during his career, Matsui sports a sterling 2.40 ERA with a 31.9% strikeout rate. He’s been even more impressive over the past three seasons, a combined 1.42 ERA and a 36.4% strikeout rate across 152 innings during that time.
Matsui was a frequent subject of MLBTR’s NPB Players to Watch series throughout the 2023 season, where Dai Takegami Podziewski discussed Matsui’s four-pitch mix that includes a 92-94 mph fastball that touches 96 along with a splitter, slider, and curveball while also noting that Matsui reportedly struggled to adjust to the MLB ball while participating in the World Baseball Classic last spring. Clearly, the Padres were more enticed by Matsui’s deep pitch mix and impressive velocity for a lefty who is listed at just 5’8” and 167 pounds than they were concerned by his struggles to adjust to the ball used in the majors earlier this year.
While the addition of Matsui shores up a Padres bullpen lacking in certainty, there’s plenty left for president of baseball operations A.J. Preller and his front office to do if they hope to return to contention in 2024. Another set-up arm to pair with Matsui and Suarez at the back of the bullpen would be helpful, and at least one more starting pitcher who can step into the void left by the departures of Blake Snell, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Nick Martinez this offseason alongside King appears to be all but necessary.
On the hitting side of things, the Padres have just two outfielders on their 40-man roster at the moment in Fernando Tatis Jr. and fourth outfielder Jose Azocar, meaning they’ll need to make multiple additions to the lineup to cover the two vacant outfield spots and DH, which lacks a clear starter following the deal that sent Matt Carpenter and his salary to Atlanta earlier in the month.
That’s a hefty shopping list for any club, but it’s especially daunting for a Padres club that projects for a $210MM luxury tax payroll per RosterResource. If the Padres are indeed intent on staying under the first tax threshold of $237MM in 2024, that gives them just under $27MM of payroll space left to work with this offseason as they look to fill the remaining holes in the lineup and pitching staff. While the addition of Matsui is a step in the right direction that didn’t eat into the club’s financial capabilities too excessively, the Padres clearly still have plenty of work to do before they’re ready to contend in an ever-improving NL West next year.
Bonus deferred till 2087
ok so I’m a Braves fan who likes complaining about everything…and even I’m tired of the Deferred jokes sheesh
lol
You might laugh three or four months from now.
La Tax Dodgers is still funny though…definitely buying that shirt and wearing to the game lol
I would love to buy the tax shirt, but I am leery about the vendors. They could be scams. Too many crooks in this country.
I haven’t seen that shirt yet, but even as a Dodger fan I think that’s funny.
Yankees fans are sick of Frazier and Andujar jokes and Astros fans are sick of trashstros jokes and Dodgers fans were sick of Covid tainted championship jokes and so on and so on. At least the Dodger fans get a fresh set of jokes!
I think Frazier might break out this year!
The Dodgers COVID tainted “championship” is no joke. Baseball is a marathon and 2020 was a sprint. Rosters and player usage was certainly not the norm then. Congrats to the Dodgers who should have received some type of trophy but not a championship flag and rings.
@dewey If you don’t give players the incentives to compete for something, why would the ones who have already made the money/won a ring even play while leaving behind their families? There was a lot unknown then about Covid and where it was heading. It is what it is and I’m glad we all had baseball as an escape during a tough period for everyone.
This “marathon vs sprint” talk is silly. Let me get this out of the way: I despise the Dodgers. I am a Twins and Padres fan. BUT I recognize how unique winning that championship was in 2020.
It was 60 games of baseball (plus playoffs) but that 60 games was an incredibly long and tough 60 games. It involved nearly empty stadiums (that sucks for players). It involved constant testing. It involved uncertainty and fear of getting something that was not completely understood. It involved constant talks and anxiety with family members. It meant not being able to see family members. It meant interruptions and pauses. It meant a slew of makeup games. It involved players opting of the season. Okay, it was not a marathon. It was more like a pentathalon with people shooting at you. In fact, it was probably the most difficult season in the history of the game (with the possible exceptions of seasons interrupted by wars and/or strikes). The Dodgers deserved their championship and people complaining about that championship are not true fans of the game.. They were the best team for the toughest 60 games (plus playoffs) in the history of the game.
Im tired that my bluejays have done absolutely NADA yet. I want them to trade for Nick Castellanos as there dh which im should wouldnt cost a ton and they wouldnt have to pay the whole bill. They need 2 OFs aswell. Id like mike talyor as the 4th/platoon type who would get plenty of abs. And they need some sort of infielder who can play 2b/3b. They need to give Barger every chance to start with the big club
I should also mention: it involved players getting really effing sick.
Andujar did break out in ‘23…at least in AAA and short spell here…and was shipped to baseball Siberia
Cubs fan here. Have you ever given your argument any serious thought?
With the exception of 2021, the Dodgers have won the N.L. West EVERY year from 2013 through 2023. They won 106 games in both 2019 and 2021. In 2020, they were on pace to win 116 games!
Winning a short series in October is the most difficult thing to do in baseball – ask Bobby Cox! The Dodgers had to win FOUR of them in 2020, one more than in a normal 162 game regular season. To any reasonable thinking baseball fan, they earned their World Series Championship. I sincerely hope it is their last one.
of 2021, the Dodgers have won the N.L. West EVERY year from 2013 through 2023. They won 106 games in both 2019 and 2021. In 2020, they were on pace to win 116 games!
Winning a short series in October is the most difficult thing to do in baseball – ask Bobby Cox! The Dodgers had to win FOUR of them in 2020, one more than in a normal 162 game regular season. To any reasonable thinking baseball fan, they earned their World Series Championship. I sincerely hope it is their last one.
It’s one thing to say it counts, to suggest it’s the most difficult season ever is a joke.
That’s your response? What, are you four years old? I constructed an argument. A good one. You just plugged your ears and said “nuh ah.” Come on smarty pants, challenge me. How was it not the most difficult season or at least in the top handful?
You missed the point. In 2020 the Dodgers did not have to endure the rigors of a 162-game season. Rigors that have made their team weak every October. THAT is what made their 2020 win illegitimate.
Dodgers themselves are a joke, and that 2020 “championship” was anything but. Players don’t need “something to compete for”, they get paid millions of dollars to show up for work.
Dodgers win the division but lack the longevity and fortitude to win it all. You can’t buy a championship. Hell the league had to tell them no more debt because they were spending money they don’t have and don’t generate on crazy rosters to build a brand. Guys don’t sign in LA to win a championship, they sign they’re to further their brands and earning potential.
Dodgers fans are the best, too stupid to realize that they are the ones paying for these free agents with insane ticket prices and subpar concessions sold at outrageous prices.
Yankee, players should have been given “something” like that stupid NBA trick that just ended. Anything but the awards that are always awarded. It was not a championship in most fans views.
Comrade, what is silly is to think 60 games was a season. Again, I recognize the uniqueness and importance of the year. Thus, a different award should have been given. Maybe the winner would have appreciated it even more. Who knows?
They did it to earn their money and to get credit. Most did anyway. Let’s be honest here.
Thank you Web. Spot on.
The Dodgers just picked up an additional 100M fans signing both Ohtani & Yamamoto so I doubt the Dodgers will be losing on this business deal. Tickets and concessions were already out of the reach of most working class folks.
Not to mention the fact that they did not have to deal with a raucous road crowd during the playoffs. Or the rigors of travel since every game was played in the same place..
Murph, Barger is behind Orelvis in the pecking order. Barger did not light AAA on fire last year. That’s where he should be.
Take Castellanos and play him in RF with Springer taking turns at DH. Hit behind Vlad. If Varsho is as all-world in CF as people believe he will help Castellanos be better in RF. Nick also has a cannon. Pun intended there.
@dewey: The Dodgers won four playoff rounds that season.
Same applies to 2020 Cy winner: Bauer. Mini-season stud.
Nah the Dodgers covid championship* jokes will never go away
No team has spent so much to win nothing
Should we say the rays have the toughest mlb schedule year in and out and need to be spotted a few runs in every contest? They play in front of a nearly empty stadium most nights at the trop….
Playing in an empty park isn’t the hardship it’s made out to be, unless you lost the ability to use your spotters in the stands to steal signs…
doG hates the Dodgers.
It was much easier, less pressure, shorter games, 7 inning double headers, no fan noise to distract hitters/pitchers, players would sit in stands if they were not playing. It’ll only really proved that La can win in shorten periods and still fall apart in long stretches
@websoulsurfer Neither did the teams that didn’t win it all in 2020
“(with the possible exceptions of seasons interrupted by wars and/or strikes).”
YA THINK!? Players literally put down their bats and picked up rifles and killed people.. Covid is a cold virus ramped up to scare u out of your money/free will and btw it worked.. what a bunch of impotent genitalia (trying to make it past the mods) get over your crybaby Covid crap, “anxiety” boohoo, also you’re going to die so get with Jesus and get over it already.. PS while you’re worried about dying of Covid my pals and I are satisfying your women/repopulating the world so the future is lookin prettayyyy good!
oh barf, even if it was the toughest 60 games in history (with 7 inning games, no heckling, and ghost runners?)
it was such unusual circumstances that… it wasnt a normal baseball season, it was just barely baseball
since players could opt-out, all teams had unequally affected rosters they had no control over… mickey mouse ring
2020 criticism is only from haters or casual fans. Logic behind it is lacking.
No, web. Don’t tell me what I did or did not do. I understood those simplistic counter “points” perfectly well. I just disagree with them. Do you understand that point?
Hey cheese chucker. When people go off to war they ain’t playing baseball. That’s not the argument I was making. Pay attention. We are talking baseball season. Not war. Now, did WWI and WW2 and the Korean War interrupt the season? Yes! Overall, though, Covid was far far worse on the actual people playing baseball. It caused more interruptions, got players sick and a few even near death. It messed with schedules. It turned sold out stadiums into stadiums with only crickets in attendance. It forced constant testing and masking. It led to long time periods of isolation. It led to very heavy workloads in small periods of time.
I’m not sure if it is the anti-maskers and Qanon folks that are criticizing me (and people who hate the Dodgers which I somewhat understand as it blinds people with arguments) but my argument is much more solid than the counter argument.
buh bye beotch. I lost 11 family members to COVID who were stupid enough to believe like you do and not willing to listen to people that are like you about anything.
Such a dumb argument
Basically no players were really effing sick.
Mostly I’m tired of the people complaining about the jokes.
@braveshomer So you’re saying we need to defer those jokes?
Astros trash can jokes were worse imo
@Yanks2 I thought they were bangers myself.
You really think this will solve the problem?
Curly posted a comment like a normal human, and not some dumb joke that nobody finds funny???? Wow, it almost gives me hope dementia is curable.
MLBTR needs to publish a story entitled, Bobby Bonilla, Baseball Visionary, complete with a picture of him smiling in his rocking chair
Did you hear Steve Phillips explain what actually happened? While Bonilla gets credit for signing, this was nothing more than another Madoff consequence. Simply put, the Mets analyzed they could make x with Madoff managing their money and pay Bonilla X minus. It was as simple as that.
Cool, I’m not tired of them.
OK, I’ll defer the joke I was going to make until 2035.
By then, the Pirates will have a contending year.
Yea because you guys cut th deferment and just bamboozle the young Latin kids before someone can help them know better
Well defer your laugh for later then.
Get over it! The Dodgers and Ohtani did all but manipulate the system. No, it isn’t cheating (see Astros) but there isn’t any honor in what was done. Ohtani is set to fall off a cliff and some insurance company will be bailing out the Dodgers.
After two UCL procedures, I highly doubt any insurance company would offer them a policy for Ohtani as a pitcher.
Prices were cheap when there had been no payoffs. Many are not insurable especially with prior injuries and the cost is so high now that many teams self-insure at least a large part.
I’m not even a Dodgers fan, but you are THE one needs to get over it! Here, have a tissue.
Wow, this is only the 1000th time I heard someone try to make a deferral joke. So so clever.
Their next signing will involve more loan documents. Ahahaha!
No intelligence detected Captain.
Ahahaha…… Get a new one, this is old, and not.even true. They have money, and will spend it…..
They have money? A bit surprising after everything they have committed to Bimbo Machado, Ringworm, and X (I genuinely do like Boegarts but he is certainly being overpaid)
$25.45 million AAV is an overpay?
$280 million sure is
It is? So far he has provided $15 million in surplus value. It will take 6 or more years until that goes in to negative value. Seems like a good deal for both Bogaerts and the Padres.
In MLB players from 31-35 decline at a pretty steady rate or 7%. After that the decline is 15% per season for age 36-39. It falls off a cliff at 40.
Using his 2023 season as the platform for calculating his decline and you see that he will still be league average or better player for 7 more seasons. At age 38 he will fall below league average and the Padres will have 3 seasons where they are taking it in the nose in terms of cost. The surplus value he generates early in the contract will more than make up for those 3 poor seasons.
The calculations that went into providing us with what the level of decline has been for MLB players does take into account career ending injuries, so if Bogaerts does not have one, he could do better than that.
Baseball, look at the field performer not some stupid chart. It will hit SD when Bogie declines big-time, can’t play SS or gets hurt. I love him Bogie but that is an insane deal for who the player is.
The stupid chart is what has actually happened. That stupid chart includes things like players getting hurt or being moved to different positions as the age.
Not sure what a field performer is.
Bogaerts is a great player that even as he declines with age will provide surplus value deep into his contract. Even when he moves to another position later in his career.
If he is giving the Padres surplus value for most of his contract, then its not insane. Its fair.
Baseball, we agree to disagree but Bogie got TV about $100m more than was anticipated. To get that money, they added on two to three extra seasons and lowered the AAV. Years from now, SD will have a lot of dead money between Bogie, Machado and others. Unless the next CBA changes things radically, this will hurt the team with respect to the tax layers.
You are also forgetting inflation. $25 million AAV in 10 years won’t even be a top 25 AAV.
What does it being more than anticipated have to do with it.
The deal will end up being a fair one based on the only infirmation we have, his salaries and historical age regression rates for MLB players.
The Red Sox offered a much higher AAV, just less years, so obiously the AAV is not too high.
Teams sign these long term contracts knowing that the last 2 or 3 years will be rough but counting on surplus value in the early years of the deal, increasing MLB revenue, and inflation to make them fair to the team. This one has already provided surplus value and will continue to do so for many more years.
We don’t know what the CBT threshold will be in the next CBA, but we do know that 9 teams blew past it this season, and the MLBPA is already making comments about it being low compared to increased revenue so it will be much higher in the next CBA.
None of that matter in terms of Bogaerts deal because the AAV is so low.
Its not in the top 25 now. Its 43rd.
legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/le…
Let me say that after Bogaerts signed with the Padres was not a happy time in my household. My wife is a diehard Red Sox fan and her very well researched diatribes against Bloom and Henry would make a sailor blush. I think that if she had seen either walking down the street it would have been an ugly scene that involved them being beaten with an old woman’s very expensive purse.
So that means it won’t be a top 100 AAV at the end of the deal!!
I love it when people talk about “surplus value.” It’s an utterly meaningless number.
I love it when people that don’t understand things like surplus value think they should chime in. Maybe stick to things you actually understand.
I also love it when cowards who know they can’t make their case on its merits in debate, make a weak insult then defend their willful ignorance with the mute button!!
LOL!! That’s game, set, and match.
Like you Dawg?
“I love it when people talk about “surplus value.” It’s an utterly meaningless number.”
Did you make an argument based on its merits there or just a veiled insult?
Can you explain what surplus value is? They did. Can you support your statement with facts? Can you explain why its supposedly utterly meaningless with some hard facts? They did theirs.
There is a reason that people like you get muted Dawg, and it’s not just your lack of baseball knowledge.
I didn’t mute you. Just because you do that, don’t project your failings on me.
Please note the number of times the word “estimate” was used.
You got that all wrong, but I commend you for at least trying.
I didn’t mute you.
Surplus value is an exact measure of how much value a FA brings to a team based on how much he is paid compared to other free agents.
Its calculated based on exactly how much free agents were paid and exactly how much WAR they produced the previous season.
So Ryan or whoever you are today, when you try to insult someone, at least get the bottom line facts correct.
So I shouldn’t give you an estimate of how many times you were wrong in using the word estimate when its based on exact salaries and exact WAR?
You must be a good dancer with all the practice you get.
@baseballis ryan …
LOL!! Hey genius, when a number is derived through averages, medians, and/or comparisons, it is NOT an “exact measure” of anything. Especially when such an imprecise “number” as WAR is included in the calculation. Basic statistics.
You have proven many times over that you can’t grasp the simplest concepts, so I’m not going to try and educate you. Yet again. Teaching physics to a rock would be more productive. And entertaining!
@baseballisryan…
Sorry to burst your little bubble — again — but somebody as smart as you pretend to be would know that WAR is not an “exact” number. That little fact blows your entire counterpoint right out of the water, because the result can’t be an “exact” number. You know, “exact,” like an actual metric.
If they had “money” then there was no point in taking the loan….
actuality, lots of teams take out loans, I was going to submit a link, but can’t find it again, is actually more common than I thought tbh
Was reported on the same report that said the padres took out a loan that 25-33% of teams take a loan out every year.
Go google debt leverage. Large corporations don’t operate in cash.
Loans are how the world works. Very few operations are cash only.
However, there’s debt limits for a reason. There’s plenty of attractive investment opportunities out there but if you’re over leveraged already then you’ll have to forego that. Or in the padres case—cut some payroll.
Their $50 million TV contract was nixed due to Bally’s going under and they had already committed $20 million to rennovations of Gallagher Square. So, they took out a loan to cover the difference. Like most billionaires, they decided not to touch liquid assets. But you obviously don’t understand economics.
The reason the Padres took the loan was Cisterra.com/tailgatepark
The Padres had a $51 million payment due to the city in December for the purchase of the land where this $1.5 billion development will be located. They were approved by the lender Ascendant Capital for $100 million. MLB allowed the Padres to take a $50 million loan because they didn’t need the rest to complete the transaction.
There has never been any indication the Padres do not have money for player acquisition. That they are replacing older players that got expensive with younger and cheaper players is not an indication either. Its smart baseball
It was the reason/timing of the loan. The TV deal issues and the owner’s health. The present structure is not willing to or can’t personally contribute regardless of the bottom line. Thus, the decision to seriously lessen their payroll for 24.
I will repeat it for you since you seem to have missed it the first 20 or so times it’s been said on this board by multiple people. The reason for the loan the Padres took out was to pay the city of San Diego for the land where they are starting a $1.5 billion development.
Cisterra.com/tailgatepark
They borrowed the money from Ascendant Capital. As you look at that page from the developer, notice who the partners are in the Tailgate Park development.
No one on the Padres has said they are lowering their payroll. In fact, they have been incredibly consistent in saying they would spend what it takes to put a championship level team on the field. ONLY Acee has said they were cutting payroll and then the rest of the sportswriters have parroted his talking points or linked to his one article about it.
The Padres did not lose much money when DSG defaulted. Less than $2 million total. We know from briefs filed by MLB in the DSG bankruptcy case that MLB made just one payment to the Padres of $6.9 million or 80% of the $8.67 million that DSG defaulted on for May. In 2022 when Manfred spoke about the possibility of DSG and other RSN’s filing bankruptcy, he and MLB made a promise to pay the teams 80% of any money they lost because of RSN’s defaulting on payments. But MLB never made another payment to the Padres.
Why? The obvious answer and the only common-sense answer is that the Padres didn’t lose any money.
The Padres were back on the air the next day with a market that had increased by 2 million households through independent contracts with each individual cable, satellite, and streaming service that carried their broadcasts when the DSG run Ballys was doing the broadcast production. All of them. The Padres also were able to start selling the MLB.tv single team packages locally that were not blacked out. The sold $4 million per month of them from June through the end of the season.
The Padres have non-tendered or allowed older players to leave. Some of which that have faced injury issues. The players they traded were Soto, who said he would not sign an extension, Grisham who was not going to be a starter for the Padres anymore, and Barlow, who was over 30.
The Padres allowed to leave or traded
5 RP – Hader Martinez, T Hill, Barlow, Garcia
4 SP – Snell, Lugo, Wacha,
1 LF – Soto
1 CF
2 Backup Catchers
They also allowed Pomeranz’s contract to expire
They have added
4 RP – Matsui, De Los Santos, Brito, Vasquez
1 SP – King
1 C – Higgy
1 top 100 SP prospect
The last 2 of those relievers are options for LR or the back of the rotation in the same role as Martinez
The Padres are approximately $32 million under the CBT threshold as of today.
Their M.O. in the past has to been to add top players through trades, not free agency. Snell, Musgrove, Darvish, Cronenworth, Clevinger, Hader, Soto and Bell, Nola, etc… all came through trades. Only Machado on his original deal and Bogaerts came through FA since Seidler became owner.
This offseason they have been tied to the Marlins for Luzardo or Garrett, White Sox for Cease, and Brewers for Burnes regarding trades for pitching. That fits Preller’s history.
That doesn’t mean the Padres won’t sign players in FA. They did Matsui this season. They did Martinez, Wacha, and Lugo. They did Garcia and Suarez.
But those were all value plays. Guys that had one issue or another that Preller took a chance on. Martinez, and Suarez were returning from extended stays in the NPB. Garcia was 35 years old. Wacha was a serious injury risk having been on the IL for 2 months in each of the previous 5 seasons. Lugo had not been a full-time starter ever before in his career and was 32 years old. Even Matsui is a value play. A 5’8″ closer that has never pitched in MLB.
THAT is the type of player Preller typically signs in FA. Bogaerts is the exception to the rule and it has been widely reported that Seidler stepped in and got that and the Machado extension done.
So what should we expect the Padres to do now? History is the best indicator of future actions. We should expect Preller to trade from a very strong farm system to get some top pitching and possibly an OF.
We should Preller to make some more value plays in FA. Yariel Rodriguez stands out as a Preller type signing on the pitching end. So would Jakob Junis. Cooper is a Preller type signing at DH/1B. Gary Sanchez to DH/BU catcher would be a Preller type signing. So would Adam Duvall. Possibly even Kevin Kiermaier.
The bottom line to all this is that the Padres are not cutting payroll, they are working to get younger and to replace players that just got very expensive for the performance they have delivered.
The guys that the Padres are allowing to leave in FA will double their 2023 earnings as a group. To keep them would have meant moving CBT payroll well over $300 million and into Mets territory.
The Padres are doing the smart thing AND keeping to Seidler’s plan. Doing the same things they have done in 2020.
Like when Goldman Sachs loaned the Yankees 225 million or JP Morgan loaned the Mets 250 mill. Good one!
Or MLB loaned McCourt money to pay payroll.
You are probably right. It looks like they will have to come up with $400 million in May for Tailgate Park, a $1.5 billion development they are building.
@NYCityRiddler Perhaps someone should loan you better jokes.
All the responses here are golden ignorance. Dodgers have so much the debt the league themselves told them no more a couple years ago. Wonder how much of a write off the investment company ownership had to make to keep spending money the team doesn’t generate?
finalized! Figured there had to be opt outs
It had to be a Preller opt out here and there and some other peripherals.
angels AND padres? good God, hating the Dodgers really made you a bandwagon simp
Don I said nothing about them. My profile picture somehow triggered you and destroyed your delusions that everyone in Southern California should be a Dodger fan. I don’t care about the dodgers. I grew up an Angels fan then moved to SD and grew to be a fan. Not that that’s any of your business. Have I interrupted your day of trolling people to make you feel better about your pathetic life?
Lay off the booze Ghost
But this is impossible! I have been told over and over the Padres have no money. Maybe this one is coming out of Preller’s own pocket. Maybe Mike Schildt sent a can around the clubhouse for donations…could be a real team effort here.
Kevin Acee… where you at?!
To this point Acee has been 100% correct.
Except for the 97% of time he’s not
Acee hasn’t been correct at all. It’s been widely known padres needed to reset the luxury tax penalty line. And their approach so far has done that. That’s not “gutting payroll” as acee doomsday preached.
How much more payroll would they need to move to meet your subjective definition of “gutting”?
They’d have to trade away 2 of Darvish, Musgrove, Machado, Tatis Jr, Bogaerts – significant long term money on the books.
Not resigning Wacha or Lugo isn’t gutting payroll. Both dealt with injuries last year especially Wacha and are in their mid 30s. Risky investments.
Would love Hader and Snell back but both are gonna be quite expensive. Snell had 1.5 good years in SD. Prior to that he was looked mid rotation. He’s streaky also a risky investment. Hader can also be steaky and wild as well.
Soto is a 1 year rental. Soon as Ohtani got what he got Soto had dollar signs in his eyes. Padres got more than the comp pick they would have gotten.
Buying expensive free agents didn’t amount to much except 1 NLCS appearance. Time to go a different direction- player development.
It would have to be opening day and no changes to the existing team.
Until then, there is no evidence they are gutting payroll.
@Brew …
Preller loves his opt-outs, complete with buyouts to pay guys who choose to quit. I think it may be his own self-loathing and hatred of the West Coast sub-consciously coming out in the contracts he gives out.
Right on…
The Madres under Preller, have been one of the most interesting teams in MLB. Always something going on. You never know who is coming or going.
Cheap!
Was hoping for the Jays.
Seems like a pretty good price for 5 years. Good for them.
5.6m aav for a guy who is 28. Was great in Japan, if he can be half as good in the mlb this is a very good deal.
Yeah this is a great signing for SD! The money compared to 2/26m for Nick Martinez or 2/16 for Emilio Pagan looks like an excellent gamble.
Indeed. If they tried to sign a reliever with those numbers in the states, they’d be paying three to four times this amount. Great signing if Matsui is even half that good stateside. Completely sidesteps the inflated pitching market.
Unless he can’t overcome the grip issue
An intriguing risk, but with that low average annual value I’m not sure why they even bother with the opt outs. Anything above average and he’ll be gone after 2 years. Anything worse and they might as well just say it’s an 18 million dollar surcharge for clearing an aging relief pitcher off their roster.
His opt outs are after years 3 and 4 so if he’s good they’re getting at least 3 years from him.
The answer to Yamamoto
I thought Imanaga would of been the answer to Yamamoto
Padres can’t afford Imanaga.
MlbDodgerfan, um, yes, they can afford him if they wanted. I’m guessing you would know that, unless you’ve only been a fan since 2015, or maybe you were born then, who knows. Get a new argument.
Half joking but they are looking to trim down payroll. Dealing Soto was not to go for it in 2024 or beyond. We kept hearing from Padre fans that Soto was re-signing with them way back. Padres not really in a position to outspend teams for free agent like Imanaga. Unless they’re dumping more salary, and Cronenworth while a terrible contract is not enough of a dump. So yeah they can’t afford Imanaga.
Mostly just a joke
Yamamoto is a starter. This guy is a closer.
Then I hope Yamamoto is not a coffee drinker because coffee is for closers.
Not that kind of closer rct! He may not like coffee anyway, probably green tea.
Why didn’t the Orioles show any interest
They already signed Kimbrel to close.
Dodgers would have signed him for 8 years at 200 mil lol but deferred most of his contract to the year 2050 when the dollar will be so weakened from liquidation and inflation that it would be worth about 5 million total in today’s money.
That’s what the Dodgers are banking on is the economy crashing and our dollar basically becoming the Peso which is smart because that 700 million dollar deal Ohtani signed will be basically worth like 200 mil in today’s money.
No
You should be an economist!
The Rapture will occur before that, no worries.
Well if the rapture takes over 3 years then they still got to live 7 years of the great Tribulation and that means if the rapture is more than 3 years away then the Dodgers will still be on the hook for Ohtani
Good signing.
5?
Preller will go where fools do not dare tread.
Long term for a RP but good value… could be a very nice get
Congratulations Padre fans. You should still be competitive, even with the reshuffle.
Jed Hoyer, where are you? Did you quit without telling Tom Ricketts? This is exactly the kind of guy the Cubs should be all over. They need bullpen help and have no good lefties in their pen as of now. smh
Jed is still in shock Ohtani signed with the Dodgers.
Also, Hoyer getting Craig Counsell is a top tier move to him it seems. I mean I’m happy with that move, but Hoyer needs to get bullpen help. Either sign Hoskins or kick the tires on what Bellinger would cost. Maybe kick the tires on Jordan Montgomery, could use another starter. Kick the tires on Dylan Cease, there are prospects that the White Sox could use.He’s got work to do…
MLBTR was off on AAV by a decent percentage.
This is more like the price range where a guy with no experience in American baseball should be at.
No reliever should ever be signed for more than a two year contract. Anything more is just silly. Relievers are erratic, fungible, and cheap.
@I s of a b
I agree, relievers are like mushrooms.
Yuki Matsui
5-8, 167lb (173cm, 75kg)
The guy is a midget practically. Good luck there Madres!!
How big is Yamamoto THEY LIVE? 5’10”, 176. He got $325 million. Have a seat.
Welcome to Miniature MLB…
By your logic then Yuki Matsui should get 95% of Yamamoto’s $325 million, and I’m seated comfortably too.
How exactly does that logic work THEY LIVE? It’s about ability to compete. Talent isn’t measured by height. Perhaps you should go back to school.
Well Little Matsui can always wear Elton John platform boots and maybe his pink sunglasses too? The average height for a pitcher though is 6ft. My 14 year grandson is about the size of Little Matsui.
Does that mean that the Dodgers made a horrific mistake with Yamamoto? Seriously, think it through.
Seriously though, I think the Dodger’s brain-trust has considerably more going for it than you or your Padres
He’s throwing a Baseball. He doesn’t need to be 6’8″ 380 lbs.
So when the Dodgers sign a midget, it’s genius. When the Padres sign a midget, it’s idiotic. Makes sense. I’m sorry Preller f*cked your wife okay?
You’re just sorry, period.
A sorry troll at that.
Said Billy Wagner!
14yrs? He can have an 8 figure signing bonus within 3-4 years! Hope you are whipping him into playing shape! As Grandpa you get 15%!
I have yet to read anywhere that Little Matsui throws 100mph unlike Billy Wagner. Wags belongs in the HOF
Yes, because those guys are meant to protect, sack the Quarterback or stop the run.
@deepfried
Bet your mother slept with you naked until you were 30 and you never knew your daddy.
Whatever you, Preller and your wife do in your private life, you shouldn’t be projecting your sexual fantasies here or in public.
Frankly, Javia I’d be surprised if you even have a wife.
US average height for men is 5’9″, Japan’s is around 5’7″. So, hardly a midget. You sound like a fool, incidentally.
How about pitchers in MLB?
Don’t bother responding it would be a fool’s errand anyways.
By your logic how the heck was Pedro Martinez one of the greatest rhp in the modern era while his brother who also pitched and was a good head taller never had anywhere near his little brothers success???
When you see Jose Altuve jacking a homerun do you have to squint like your staring at the sun??
Don’t bother. Reality and THEY aren’t on speaking terms.
How about those Dodgers?
The only aspect to consider is that if a Japanese pitcher has hands which are correspondingly smaller than a taller American, the slightly larger ball may present problems for them. After all, grip is extremely important for a pitcher. Height has little, if anything, to do with their actual pitching ability.
My sources tell me Matsui is actually 5′ 7″. For a pitcher that is extremely short. As you mentioned the US baseball is larger. He’s got a lot of wear on that small frame too.
Divination by chicken entrails, though, are not reliable sources
You should know Brew88. Try bowel movements.
Don’t feed the trolls Brew.
@ Javia
Funny coming from one of the worst trolls on MLB Trade Rumors. I see you can cut & paste when you’re not trolling. Enjoy Little Matsui throwing batting practice to the NL.
Another Japan import signing with a West Coast team, big surprise there.
Isn’t he a pretty good pitcher? Did he low ball himself? I figured he would fwt 5/80 at least.
If he opts out after 3 years, is he a FA or stuck under arbitration.
Good question. I would guess a FA, but it would only be a guess.
Free agent.
This could be a good signing
Nickname: Mini Mite
Being named a 4th outfielder on a 40-man roster that consists of only two outfielders is a new insult I’m here for.
Well that leaves Imanaga as the lone big name Japanese player left to sign. Will be interesting to see when the rest of the decent starting pitchers start to sign among Snell, Montgomery, Giolito, Stroman, Yariel Rodriguez, Lorenzen, Manaea, Montas, and if anybody will take a chance on pariahs Clevinger or Trevor Bauer. If no on the last two, that leaves 9 decent free agents SP’s including Imanaga, pretty much. That isn’t too many, the first 5 or 6 seem a lot better than the rest. I would think several of them could sign in quick succession once one or two are off the board. You would think teams like the Yankees, Mets, and Cubs who missed on Yamamoto should be destinations for some.
Time for Arizona and Colorado to jump in on the Japanese born players. West stocking up big time it seems
I like this signing. I think his Japan numbers will match up around a high 2 maybe low 3 Era in mlb. He’ll perform. Most likely set up guy for Suarez. Extremely tradeable contract if things don’t work out. Grateful job Preller.
Why isn’t the mute button working?
A relief pitcher with a Win /Loss record of 29 W to 47L for a winning percentage of .382 does not impress me, not at all.
They Live!!! People who care about wins and losses for relievers. The thing is, as a great reliever you are gonna be in more opportunities to get a loss than a win. Relievers who get lots of wins are generally 6th inning type guys, longmen, and people who pitch when the team is losing by a little.
Edwin Diaz (.355- yikes)
Josh Hader
Lee Smith
Trevor Hoffman
Dennis Eckersley
Plus many, many more of the greats, have losing records for their career………
It’s the nature of being a closer, you either save the game or lose it.
So lay off the juice They Live.
Which also comes with a 2.43 ERA and 236 saves.
So, Yuki throws
4-Seam Fastball – 52% of the time
Slider – 11% of the time
Curveball – 2% of the time
Forkballs – 35% of the time
Fastball tops out at 92
Slider tops out at 85
Curveball tops out at 76
Forkball tops out at 87
His wOBAcon shows that the curveball gets mashed, which is probably why he doesn’t throw it much.
bo-no05.hatenadiary.org/entry/2023/05/28/180710
Search for 松井 裕樹
Actually his FB averages 92-93 and tops out at 96.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuki_Matsui#:~:text=Matsui….
@Javia135
I apologize for the misunderstanding. Yes, he averages 92/93.
Would love to see his fork. A true fork, a nasty @ss one, will look like a fast knuckle ball and is basically unhittable.
You gotta have big hands to throw a fork. Long fingers. The ball has to slip out of your hand, between your middle and index fingers. Super hard pitch to throw. If you have small/medium hands it is impossible to throw. I tried for years..It won’t work.
Not knowing about NPB it seems to be relievers are the market that is still largely unexplored. Imagine Takashi Saito coming to US at age 26. He’d be a HOFer possibly.
Rishi, So funny you mention Saito! I’ve been thinking about him recently. I feel like he is lost in the pantheon of Dodgers lore..
Heavier balls cause problems.
Fred – don’t I know it!
Or
“That’s what she said”
Well – this is the guy I wanted the Cardinals to sign. But nope. And it makes sense – he isn’t 38 years old. Mo and company like their free agents “well aged.”
Funny the image for this post looks to be the former Padres cap/color scheme before they returned to brown and gold. Kind of entertaining.
> The deal covers Matsui’s age-28
> through -32 seasons,
-32, huh?
Benjamin Matsui.
We’ve seen a couple of Closers come from Japan. Hopefully for the Padres Matsui is more Kazuhiro Sasaki than Shingo Takatsu
Just another Robert Suarez would be fine
Takatsu was 35 his first season in the majors and he pitched well. 2nd in the ROY voting. Overall not a bad 2 years in the majors with a 3.38 ERA.
I am guessing that if the got a 1st season like Takatsu’s 2004 and 3.38 ERA over his 5 seasons that Padres would be quite happy with the Matsui contract.
Which would still be better than Kyuji Fujikawa, another dominant Japanese closer. Unfortunately, despite his fantastic NPB career, he was miserable in the MLB, as he was 1-1 with a 5.74 ERA and 2 saves in 29 games.
The fact Mini Matsui has pitched 704 innings over 10 years though shouldn’t be a concern? Josh Hader although a year older has only pitched 388 innings although that’s over 6 years.
Yamamoto has 967.2 inning over 7 seasons and is 25. Idk if giving a dude 325 mill who’s pitched almost 1,000 innings and never faced mlb hitters over the course of 162 games (30+ starts) was very wise.
You’re also forgetting to include haders minor stats of innings pitched. 946 over the course of majors and minors career
I was discussing Little Matsui. Yamamoto is another discussion. No, I think it’s ludicrous to pay a SP $325M but if the Dodgers are willing to spend it then let’s see what the best Japanese SP can do. If it doesn’t get them 3 World Championships I’d say it was a bust but the Dodgers see the 100 million new fans as being the reason to drop $325M.
He’s not the best. 2nd best.
Who is he 2nd best to❓ Ohtani❓
Roki Sasaki. Kid is absolutely dominate and has better overall stuff than Yamamoto.
Merry Christmas baseball fans.
I might consider drafting him in the 23rd round of my 15 team Gladiator League. There’s only 23 rounds.
Will he be paid in yen or American currency and can you defer yen