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Hideki Matsui

Previewing The Hideki Matsui Market

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Hideki Matsui has three multi-homer games in the last week and a half, so he's clearly got something left, even at 35. The Yankees have reportedly decided not to bring Matsui back, but his bat should make him appealing to other teams. With 23 homers and just eight more strikeouts than walks, Matsui has a .265/.365/.508 line for the season.

The problem is, he hasn't played an inning in the outfield this year and he played just 24 games in the field last season. He would like to play defense, but even when he has taken the field, Matsui has been a consistent liability, according to UZR. It's hard to imagine an NL team paying millions for Matsui, so let's consider some possible AL destinations. 

The Red Sox, Indians, Twins and Rays have DHs under contract for next year, so unless they get creative, Matsui won't fit. The Angels and White Sox will see their own DHs hit free agency after the season; The Royals have Billy Butler and Mike Jacobs under control next year and the A's may be reluctant to bring in an aging DH for a second straight year. The Rangers could have interest depending on what they do with Marlon Byrd, Hank Blalock and Julio Borbon; The Jays could have interest if they have enough money; and it wouldn't be fair to completely rule out the Mariners, Tigers or Orioles. 

Matsui hits free agency alongside Jim Thome, Vladimir Guerrero and Gary Sheffield, so there could be more DHs than DH jobs this offseason. The league-wide emphasis on defense and youth doesn't help Matsui's value, either. It only takes a couple injuries or trades to change that dramatically, but at this point, the offseason market for Matsui doesn't look promising, in spite of his hot streak.

Yankees Rumors: Damon, Pettitte, Matsui

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Last year it was Mussina, Abreu and Giambi. This year we've got another set of free agents-to-be in the Bronx, so let's take a look at the latest rumors surrounding them:

  • Johnny Damon doesn't expect to negotiate with the Yankees before the season's over, but he tells Yahoo's Gordon Edes that he likes New York so much he hopes to "lock something in for a couple more years."
  • Andy Pettitte tells Christian Red of the New York Daily News that he knows he wants to avoid drawn-out contract negotiations after the season. Pettitte, who says he's focused on winning now, admits he decided to return to the Yankees "no matter what" last winter.
  • Hideki Matsui likes New York and wants to play defense, but other than that he's not thinking about his upcoming free agency, according to Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News.

Yanks Could Bring Back Damon; Not Matsui

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Joel Sherman of the New York Post looks forward to some decisions the Yankees will face this offseason:

  • Sherman believes the Yankees would consider bringing Johnny Damon back if he'd sign a one year deal after the season when he hits free agency. 
  • Damon profiles as a Type A free agent, so the Yankees could offer him a one-year deal in arbitration and receive two draft picks if he signs elsewhere.
  • Damon makes $13MM this year and would presumably receive a raise in arbitration. Remember, the Yankees didn't offer Bobby Abreu arbitration last year.
  • The Yankees like Hideki Matsui a lot, but they won't bring him back next year because they want to be able to rotate other players in and out of the DH spot.

Odds And Ends: Scheppers, Tate, Matsui

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Links for Thursday morning…

  • MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports that two teams passed on Tanner Scheppers because they believe he has a partially torn labrum. The Rangers, who picked him, don't believe the problem is as severe.
  • In a Q&A for The Baseball Analysts, Padres exec Paul DePodesta says he's "ecstatic" about his team's draft. He compares Donavan Tate, the Padres' first rounder, to Adam Jones and Mike Cameron. 
  • The Padres are encountering trouble at the major league level, where Chris Young will likely join Jake Peavy on the DL, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock. Not only do the Padres lose their best starters, it's now harder for them to field offers for them.
  • Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pirates are set to sign a handful of their picks, including their second selection, Brooks Pounders.
  • Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker passes on comments Hideki Matsui made about returning to Japan. Matsui sounds happy that the Hanshin Tigers could be interested, but says he'd probably prefer to stay in the States.
  • The Mariners are scouting top international prospect Guillermo Pimentel, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.

Odds And Ends: Cubs, Matsui, Mets

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More links for the afternoon…

  • Don't forget about today's chat, coming up in less than two hours at 2pm CST…
  • This Chicago Sun-Times article blames Jim Hendry for assembling an expensive group of under-performing hitters, but credits him for putting together some solid pitching.
  • Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker passes on some comments made by a member of the Hanshin Tigers front office about the possibility of acquiring Hideki Matsui after the season, when he's a free agent. It sounds like the Tigers will keep an eye on him.
  • Willie Randolph was fired a year ago today. Since then, the Mets have won 87 of 154 games under Jerry Manuel, who's a better communicator than his predecessor and a popular leader, according to Ben Shpigel of the New York Times.
  • Darren Heitner points out that the first rounders to sign so far haven't obtained the recommended limit for their slots. (Hat Tip: THT)

Yankees Likely To Part With Matsui After Season

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According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post Yankees executives say "there is almost zero chance that Hideki Matsui will be re-signed after the season." Even a strong finish this season wouldn't figure to be enough for the Yankees to bring Matsui back, because they want more roster flexibility. Players like Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez could all benefit from DHing at times, but that's difficult if Matsui can't play in the field regularly. Matsui has said he would like to remain a Yankee and he gives the team a presence in the Japanese market.

Sherman suggests there's no guarantee Matsui will be able to make even a few million dollars next year and says the traditional positionless DH has a limited place in the game now. Matsui will make $13MM this year.

Hideki Matsui Enters Contract Year

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Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes about Hideki Matsui’s future with the Yankees.  Matsui, 34, projects as the team’s full-time DH and Opening Day cleanup hitter this year.  Sherman says that after two knee surgeries the Yankees view him strictly as a designated hitter.

The Yankees’ outfield may see changes for 2010.  Matsui is a free agent after the season, as are Scott Boras clients Johnny Damon and Xavier Nady.  Nick Swisher is under contract through 2011.  Sherman says that since the Yanks may want to keep the DH spot open for Jorge Posada and other stars under contract, Matsui may not make sense.  Interesting names on the free agent market after ’09: Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Rick Ankiel, Mike Cameron, Bobby Abreu, Jermaine Dye, and possibly Manny Ramirez.

Matsui told Sherman he’d be open to playing for other teams and doesn’t intend to return to Japan.  Like many corner outfield/DH types, Matsui will probably have to take a large pay cut in free agency even if he has a solid year.

Yankees Still Fielding Calls on Swisher, Nady

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According to Tyler Kepner of the New York Times, Brian Cashman’s spending lots of time talking with other clubs about Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady. Cashman’s open to moving either player, but he says he won’t make a deal for the sake of making one: "we’re not going to do anything unless there’s a reason to do it."

Cashman also said most reports about trade discussions have been accurate. The Braves, Nationals and Reds are among the teams who have reportedly had interest in Swisher and Nady.

The Yankees like Johnny Damon’s production and they’re not shopping him or Hideki Matsui.

Kepner suggests the Yankees should "hold on to Swisher and dangle Nady" for a number of reasons. Swisher’s two years younger and he’s under contract for $21MM over the next three years. Nady, a Scott Boras client, will be a free agent after the 2009 season.

Heyman’s Latest: Yankees

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Jon Heyman chimes in with a few notes on the Yankees…

  • Heyman confirms that the Yankees are accepting trade offers for Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher.
  • The Yankees have "no way to trade" Hideki Matsui, noting that he is coming off a knee surgery and has a full no-trade clause.
  • Heyman also says the Yankees will not trade Johnny Damon saying the team needs him to leadoff and play center field.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Yankees Outfield Surplus

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According to Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News:

The Yankees are looking to move two from a group of outfielders of Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher and Hideki Matsui. The Angels, Texas, Oakland and Atlanta are considered to have interest.

Joel Sherman has noted that the Braves attempted to acquire Swisher from the White Sox before the Yankees did.  The Angels seem content with their outfield.  Sherman and Ringolsby both seem to think the Yanks prefer to retain Johnny Damon.

Sherman cautioned that the "glut of hitters" remaining on the free agent market will make it more difficult for the Yankees to move one of their corner guys.  From the emails I receive, Yankees fans would most like to see Matsui dealt.  Perhaps he will be, but I believe his current trade value is negative.  34 years old, full no-trade clause, $13MM salary in ’09, September knee surgery and a questionable ability to play the outfield.

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