The Padres finalized a five-year deal with NPB reliever Yuki Matsui at the end of December. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the $28MM pact contained a pair of opt-out chances, as well as a conditional option for the 2028 campaign depending on Matsui’s elbow health.
A report from The Associated Press lays out the specifics of the 28-year-old’s deal. Matsui’s ability to opt out after the 2026 season is conditional on avoiding a Tommy John surgery or any other elbow injury that requires an injured list stint of 130+ days between 2024-25. The salary breaks down as follows:
- $3.25MM in 2024
- $5.5MM in 2025
- $5.75MM in 2026
- $6.5MM in 2027
- $7MM in 2028
If Matsui suffers a significant elbow injury, the 2028 salary becomes a conditional team/player option. He also receives full no-trade protection and can bump the value of future years’ payments by up to $1.4MM annually based on the number of games he finishes.
The first opt-out decision comes with two years and $13.5MM in guarantees remaining. Passan reported that Matsui would also have the right to opt out after the ’27 campaign. If he plays out the full contract, he’ll be a free agent after 2028 despite not reaching six years of MLB service, according to the AP. That’s a common provision for players who sign guaranteed deals after a stint in the KBO or NPB.
What character does he use for Yuki
I dont think SD is better than last year, but I like the retooling sorta deals they are making.
isn’t he a free agent now, with 0 years of mlb service?
Still a much better deal than average on this market for the fathers
LOL “for the fathers.” Love it..
Ok
Mmkay.
Mlb teams getting creative with these foreign investment deals.
Let’s sign relievers to 5 or 7 year contracts, weeeeeeee! (Interested to see how Suarez’s gazillion year contract works out for AJ as well)
I think there is something to be said about a teams local marketing when the fans think a player will be around for a while.
May not help you win games, maybe, but it’s easier to sink money on a jersey for a player that should be around for a while.
Relievers haven’t been marketable, beyond some closers, because of bullpen volatility is too damn high. Pretty sure that relievers tend to get to mlb level at an older age than starters, many youngsters of talent get tried to be starters first.
If you can get a young reliever with a long enough track record, why not make a longer deal from the start?
Only 1 team can win a world series per year, but every team can choose to have players their fanbase can expect to get familiar with.
No risky signings, no rewardsy signings.
And it’s always nice to grow the fan base in another country.
I agree 100% with what you are saying. Fans definitely don’t get familiar with relievers as often as other players.
Back when Zumaya was playing for Tigers, fans were buying all sorts of stuff related to him.
And I had a Tom Gordon poster on my wall in my bedroom as a kid. I think he had a fairly short career but was lights out for a couple seasons haha. Flash Gordon. Have no idea how he became my first favorite player, since I grew up outside Seattle. Then Griffey happened.
That curveball of Gordon’s….
I remember he had a few good seasons as a yankee being Mariano rivera’s set up man.
I think mid 2000s if I’m not mistaken
Nope, KC Royals closer from the late 80’s.
We was a Yankee reliever in 2004 and 2005.
Also, since you are living up to your name, he was never a closer for the Royals. The Red Sox converted him to a reliever after a couple of ineffective seasons as a starter.
Yes, you’re right, thank you for the help jogging my memory. Now I understand. Appreciate it.
At the price the Padres are paying him, Matsui doesn’t even need to be a closer or setup man.
Just be average and his deal will be considered a success story..
Not to mention more eyes from Japan watching, maybe an enforcement deal or 2 can come from it and that will pay the contract off alone.
Surprised he went that cheap. His agent must suck. I’d take him over Robert Stephenson who is expect o t make $10M+ over multiple years.
Does a team owe more money in regards to the posting fee if a player reaches their incentives? Likewise, do they get money refunded if a player opts out before fulfilling the original contract?
The San Diego Padres. LOL!