Hideki Matsui is expected to join the Rays this week, perhaps for the weekend series against the Red Sox.
Matsui has just two hits in 18 at-bats for Triple-A Durham, but the Rays are evidently pleased with how he’s looked. He’ll give manager Joe Maddon another option in left field while Desmond Jennings (knee) is out and could also see the occasional start in the DH slot.
Source: tampabay.com
Tagged as: Hideki Matsui, news, Rays
Hideki Matsui is expected to report to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.
Matsui will travel to Toronto to get his visa before joining the team in Durham. The 37-year-old will have to show he has something left in the tank to earn a call-up, as the Rays haven’t promised him anything.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Hideki Matsui, news, Rays
Hideki Matsui went 2-for-4 with a walk Friday in his latest extended spring training game.
Matsui also played left field. The 37-year-old is expected to join the Triple-A Durham roster within the next few days as he attempts to make his way back to the major leagues.
Source: mlblogs.com
Tagged as: Hideki Matsui, news, Rays
Hideki Matsui went 2-for-4 with two singles and an RBI on Wednesday in his first extended spring training game.
Matsui finalized a minor league deal with the Rays last week and should be added to the Triple-A Durham roster within the next few days. The 37-year-old will to have to earn his way back to the big leagues.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Hideki Matsui, news, Rays
Hideki Matsui will play in an extended spring training game for the Rays Wednesday.
It’s his first game action for the club since signing on last week. Matsui will play in a few extended spring games before then being added to Triple-A Durham’s roster. Matsui will have to play well to earn a call-up, as the Rays haven’t promised him anything.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Hideki Matsui, news, Rays
Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Tuesday that there’s “nothing formal” as far as an out-clause in Hideki Matsui’s minor league contract.
Matsui, 37, officially signed with the Rays on Monday and was introduced during a press conference Tuesday. The current plan calls for him to play a few extended spring training games before joining Triple-A Durham. He’s not guaranteed to join the major league roster and Friedman said that he’ll be treated with respect if an opportunity doesn’t materialize, so an out-clause isn’t really necessary.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Hideki Matsui, news, Rays
Rays signed DH Hideki Matsui to a minor league contract.
The agreement was reached last Monday, but it took several days to go final. Matsui, 37, struggled mightily to draw interest this winter after posting a weak .251/.321/.375 batting line last year for the A’s. But Tampa Bay provides a much healthier hitting environment, and he could do well as a part-time DH behind Luke Scott.
Tagged as: Hideki Matsui, news, Rays
Jack Curry of YES Network reports that Hideki Matsui is expected to soon sign a minor league contract with the Rays.
Matsui failed to draw much interest this winter after batting .251/.321/.375 with 12 homers, 72 RBI and a .696 OPS with the A’s last year, but he has been working out in New York in hopes of continuing his career. Assuming he lands on the big league roster, the 37-year-old could function as a left-handed bat off the bench or split DH duties with Luke Scott.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Athletics, Hideki Matsui, news
According to Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record, the Yankees are not initiating calls with representatives for free agent DH-types.
They don’t really need to. With plenty of veteran hitters left in the free agent market, the Yankees have the ability to field calls from desperate agents and wait for the best possible deal. Carlos Pena, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Vladimir Guerrero and Raul Ibanez have all been mentioned as possible fits.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Athletics, Hideki Matsui, news
According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, there has been “some contact” between the Yankees and free agent Hideki Matsui.
The Yankees reportedly only have $1-2 million in their budget for a DH, so Matsui might be a cheaper option than either Carlos Pena or Johnny Damon. The 37-year-old batted .251/.321/.375 with 12 homers and 72 RBI with the A’s last season and previously played with New York from 2003-2009. The Yankees will likely shuffle many of their veteran players out of the DH spot throughout the season, but Matsui could be paired with the the righty-hitting Andruw Jones.
Source: twitter.com
Tagged as: Athletics, Hideki Matsui, news