Oops, subject should be: "Matsui to Yankees?"

Japanese power hitter Hideki "Godzilla" Matsui may by the next Japanese baseball player to join the Majors. Matsui, the co-MVP in the Japanese league swatted 50 homers last year for the Yomiuri (Tokyo) Giants. Latest report:

[quote] NEW YORK (Ticker) - Hideki Matsui, considered to be Japan's best baseball player, announced on Thursday night that he will leave the Yomiuri Giants and play in the major leagues in 2003.

Team executives offered Matsui a four-year, $32 million contract to stay in the Japanese League, but Matsui has his heart set on proving himself in the major leagues much like Ichiro Suzuki did with the Seattle Mariners.

"It was painful to tell my coaches, but my personal desire to go over there and play didn't go away," Matsui told the New York Daily News.

The New York Yankees are believed to be the frontrunners for Matsui, who hit .334 and led Japan's Central League with 50 homers and 107 RBI.

After their working agreement of 20 years with the Nippon Ham Fighters expired earlier this year, the Yankees forged a relationship with Yomiuri. The Yankees' YES Network broadcasted a Yomiuri game on October 26, a replay from an April contest.

The Seattle Mariners, who have Suzuki and closer Kazuhiro Sasaki, will also likely make a bid for Matsui, who played for $4.7 million last season.

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[ November 01, 2002: Message edited by: canmark ]

I think the Giants should take a shot at him. If they can take Shinjo for one lousy year of performance, they could easily upgrade with this guy. Especially since it was just announced that Bell and Sanders are now free agents, and Jeff Kent may soon follow in that manner.

What position does this guy play? All I've read is that he's such a great hitter.

Are Bell and Sanders just declaring as a formality or are they really going to leave? I'm wondering if it's like Jim Thome, where the player declares but is giving the team he's on now first shot at signing them?

David Bell declined his option, hoping for a longer term contract, which I'm sure he would stay if offered. Reggie Sanders accepted his option but the Giants declined, maybe telling him they really don't want to keep him long term (which is a good decision IMHO).

Godzilla Matsui is a right fielder.

[quote]Hideki Matsui, the seven-time Japan League All-Star and two-time MVP whose power and prowess have earned him the nickname of the kitschy Japanese film dragon, could be posted and come to play in the United States next season.

And his hitting, a lightning bat that produced 42-homer seasons in 1999 and 2000 as well as 1,223 hits and 782 runs batted in in 1,128 career games, is not the only mega-factor in the potential move.

Godzilla Matsui is the right fielder of the Tokyo Giants, often called the Yomiuri Giants.

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My theory for his nickname is that he has a somewhat uneven face (think James Woods) and when he narrows his eyes while in the box, peering from under his batting helmet, he takes on a menacing Godzilla-like look.

The Yanks have apparently signed Matsui to a 3-year $21 million deal.

[quote]Matsui, whose nickname is "Godzilla," would be a corner outfielder for the Yankees. He has a .304 career average in Japan with 332 homers and 889 RBIs in 1,268 games. He led the Central League last season with 50 homers and 107 RBIs, and had the second-highest average at .334

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