Kazuo Matsui to the Astros (per ESPN 1000)

[inari]

A Matsui/Theriot platoon would be an improvement at shortstop. Not a huge improvement, but an improvement.

[CUBZ99]

Matsui would be a waste of salary. The Cubs would be better off to have a competition between Theriot and Cedeno, and use the resources for a significant improvement elsewhere.

[BigbadB]

Matsui would be a waste of salary. The Cubs would be better off to have a competition between Theriot and Cedeno, and use the resources for a significant improvement elsewhere.

 

I'm under the impression that signing Matsui has more to do with improving the odds of signing Fukudome, and I'm actually fine with that.

 

He wouldn't be a waste of salary. He would be a nice complement to Theriot at SS from the left side of the plate. Also, if the Cubs end up with an outfield that consists of Jones, Pie and Fukudome, DeRosa provides a bat from the right side in RF on the occasion when the Cubs want to load up with RH bats against a LHP.

[Post Count Padder]

Matsui would be a waste of salary. The Cubs would be better off to have a competition between Theriot and Cedeno, and use the resources for a significant improvement elsewhere.

 

I'm under the impression that signing Matsui has more to do with improving the odds of signing Fukudome, and I'm actually fine with that.

 

He wouldn't be a waste of salary. He would be a nice complement to Theriot at SS from the left side of the plate. Also, if the Cubs end up with an outfield that consists of Jones, Pie and Fukudome, DeRosa provides a bat from the right side in RF on the occasion when the Cubs want to load up with RH bats against a LHP.

Is Soriano no longer a part of the OF?

[CUBZ99]

Matsui would be a waste of salary. The Cubs would be better off to have a competition between Theriot and Cedeno, and use the resources for a significant improvement elsewhere.

 

I'm under the impression that signing Matsui has more to do with improving the odds of signing Fukudome, and I'm actually fine with that.

 

He wouldn't be a waste of salary. He would be a nice complement to Theriot at SS from the left side of the plate. Also, if the Cubs end up with an outfield that consists of Jones, Pie and Fukudome, DeRosa provides a bat from the right side in RF on the occasion when the Cubs want to load up with RH bats against a LHP.

 

Matsui has been terrible since coming over to the states. So far he has had one decent year, and even those numbers are heavily padded by playing at Coors Field. Away from Coors his stats were .249 BA .305 OBP .637 OPS. If his agent is worth anything he will flip his one decent year into a multiyear deal. That is a waste of salary IMO.

[SouthSideRyan]

I didn't want Matsui when the alternative was Alex Gonzalez. I don't want Matsui with the alternative being Ryan Theriot. I do not want him anywhere.

[inari]

I didn't want Matsui when the alternative was Alex Gonzalez. I don't want Matsui with the alternative being Ryan Theriot. I do not want him anywhere.

 

I do not want him, Sam I am.

[questionmarkgrace]

it seems pretty obvious that the cubs brass wants to sign a japanese player simply because it opens up a new market for revenue and makes the cubs even more marketable and thus an easier sale. If we sign Fukudome, Kuroda, or matsui, maybe the cubs new owners get into a japanese tv deal like the yankees and red sox have.

 

I personally like Kuroda, I watched a lot of you tube video of him last year and I think he could be 2/3 starter potential, especially in the NL. Some people have said that he is around 89mph but he can crank it up to 94+ and seems to work around 90-92. At any rate he changes speeds well.

[BigbadB]

Matsui would be a waste of salary. The Cubs would be better off to have a competition between Theriot and Cedeno, and use the resources for a significant improvement elsewhere.

 

I'm under the impression that signing Matsui has more to do with improving the odds of signing Fukudome, and I'm actually fine with that.

 

He wouldn't be a waste of salary. He would be a nice complement to Theriot at SS from the left side of the plate. Also, if the Cubs end up with an outfield that consists of Jones, Pie and Fukudome, DeRosa provides a bat from the right side in RF on the occasion when the Cubs want to load up with RH bats against a LHP.

Is Soriano no longer a part of the OF?

 

Uh, since his outfield spot is a lock, I didn't feel the need to include him. I meant that Fukudome, Pie and Jones would be vying for the other 3 spots.

[nilodnayr]

I guess people don't remember that when the Mets tried him at SS they quickly found out he didn't know how to backhand the ball and was an utter and complete failure.

[badnews]

This topic is insane. I can't believe anyone on this site seriously thinks Kaz Matsui is a good idea. Nilodnayr is right - Matsui is a butcher at shortstop. And even his numbers vs. righties are inflated by Coors significantly. Why are we still even discussing this? HE'S. NO. GOOD. AT. ALL. A Ryan Theriot/Matsui platoon? Are you kidding? Aren't platoons supposed to be productive? Why have two guys platoon at shortstop to produce a .690 OPS when one of them can't even play shortstop?

 

His career OPS+ is 82. 82!

 

Again, grabbing garbage Japanese players to try and get Fukudome here is nonsensical. Nobody knows if Fukudome is even going to be worth his contract, let alone alone worth a dead weight player like Matsui.

 

Iwase is leaning towards staying in Japan. Kuroda has said he would prefer to play on the west coast/somewhere where the weather is warm. So be it.

 

Matsui is crap anyway you try and figure it. There is no justification for bringing crap on board. There is no justification for giving crap a multiyear deal.

 

I agree with the Dr. Seuss guy. I do not want him on a boat. I do not want him on a train. I do not want him on a plane. I do not want him on this team.

[E.J.]

Denver Post[/url]"] It comes down to this: If the Cubs offer a three-year contract to Kazuo Matsui, as expected, and the Marlins or Mets bid $4 million a year for Yorvit Torrealba, which is less likely, the Rockies are prepared to lose both starters.

 

O'Dowd will speak with Matsui's agent Monday and believes he will have a handle by early next week on whether the second baseman is amenable to returning. The Cubs are going after Matsui aggressively because they want his speed in the lineup and believe he could ease the transition for Kosuke Fukudome, if they land the Japanese free-agent center fielder.

 

 

3-year contract? ](*,)

[CUBZ99]

Denver Post[/url]"] It comes down to this: If the Cubs offer a three-year contract to Kazuo Matsui, as expected, and the Marlins or Mets bid $4 million a year for Yorvit Torrealba, which is less likely, the Rockies are prepared to lose both starters.

 

O'Dowd will speak with Matsui's agent Monday and believes he will have a handle by early next week on whether the second baseman is amenable to returning. The Cubs are going after Matsui aggressively because they want his speed in the lineup and believe he could ease the transition for Kosuke Fukudome, if they land the Japanese free-agent center fielder.

 

 

3-year contract? ](*,)

 

3 years is insane.

[tinkerstoeverstochance]

According to the Denver Post, the Cubs are expected to offer Kazuo Matsui a three-year contract.

The newspaper reports that the Rockies will likely let him leave if that's the case, which would be the right move. For all the talk of Matsui's dramatic improvement since leaving the Mets, he batted just .249 with a measly 638 OPS away from Coors Field in 2007.

 

per roto

[CubinNY]

According to the Denver Post, the Cubs are expected to offer Kazuo Matsui a three-year contract.

 

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! a thousand times no.

[C.C.]

I can't believe this is true. I just can't!

[UMFan83]

I can't believe this is true. I just can't!

 

Wait you can't? I bet you were saying the same thing when we resigned Neifi, signed Burnitz, signed Jacque, etc etc etc.

[PrimeTime]

Seriously, Is Hendry on drugs? If thousands of people disagree with you and say it's a bad signing or target, Why in the blue hell do you go after the guy? We already are stacked in the infield anyway..He has to be the stupiest GM of all time. You don't win a world series by adding Kaz Freakin Matsui to the team..Im about to throw my monitor out the window at work after reading this garbage. I HATE YOU HENDRY

[E.J.]

Seriously, Is Hendry on drugs? If thousands of people disagree with you and say it's a bad signing or target, Why in the blue hell do you go after the guy? We already are stacked in the infield anyway..He has to be the stupiest GM of all time. You don't win a world series by adding Kaz Freakin Matsui to the team..Im about to throw my monitor out the window at work after reading this garbage. I HATE YOU HENDRY

 

I just don't understand Hendry's logic on this. Where is Matsui going to play? Is he going to split time with Theriot at SS? Matsui has shown he's not capable of being a good shortstop in his time with the Mets. That's why he was moved to 2b. So does that mean Matsui is going to take over 2b? That seems like the most likely option, but why do you replace DeRosa with an inferior player? Just because he has some speed? Does this mean DeRosa is on the trading block, or is DeRosa just going to be some super utility player?

 

I just don't understand. The only thing I do understand is that this sale of the Cubs needs to move faster because Hendry and Co. need to be replaced already. They have no idea what they're doing.

[CubColtPacer]

Seriously, Is Hendry on drugs? If thousands of people disagree with you and say it's a bad signing or target, Why in the blue hell do you go after the guy? We already are stacked in the infield anyway..He has to be the stupiest GM of all time. You don't win a world series by adding Kaz Freakin Matsui to the team..Im about to throw my monitor out the window at work after reading this garbage. I HATE YOU HENDRY

 

I just don't understand Hendry's logic on this. Where is Matsui going to play? Is he going to split time with Theriot at SS? Matsui has shown he's not capable of being a good shortstop in his time with the Mets. That's why he was moved to 2b. So does that mean Matsui is going to take over 2b? That seems like the most likely option, but why do you replace DeRosa with an inferior player? Just because he has some speed? Does this mean DeRosa is on the trading block, or is DeRosa just going to be some super utility player?

 

I just don't understand. The only thing I do understand is that this sale of the Cubs needs to move faster because Hendry and Co. need to be replaced already. They have no idea what they're doing.

 

Hopefully this means they think DeRosa can play SS, which puts DeRosa at SS/Matsui at 2nd against RHP, and Theriot at SS/DeRosa at 2nd against LHP.

 

There is one thing that is true. If you're going to have DeRosa playing 3rd and the OF on any kind of a regular basis, you need another MIF. Matsui basically replaces Fontenot's spot on the roster, which is an upgrade, although how much of one remains a question.

[Post Count Padder]

:-&

 

I could put up with one year.....but 3?

[UMFan83]

I can't wait until its revealed that DeRosa will be moving to RF, Kaz at 2B and Theriot at SS. This place is going to be nuts

[PrimeTime]

The ONLY way this signing because a benefit or anything is if it gets Fukudome here..

[CubinNY]

The ONLY way this signing because a benefit or anything is if it gets Fukudome here..

It is still not a benefit. He isn't playing for free.

 

I really cannot understand this. Baseball shouldn't be a fraternity club.

[Tracer Bullet]

I can't wait until its revealed that DeRosa will be moving to RF, Kaz at 2B and Theriot at SS. This place is going to be nuts

 

I might have to convert to a full-blown Tigers fan if this happens. It's the only Michigan team I can stand and at least they have a good GM.