Good-Bye, Godzilla: Matsui Officially Becomes An Angel

Photograph of Hideki Matsui and other Yankees player during the ticket tape parade by thoth1618 on Flickr

As expected, Hideki Matsui, the Yankees' MVP during its latest World Series championship, and the Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a $6.5 million one-year deal. Angels GM Tony Reagins said, "We are excited to have a player with talent that Hideki brings. He is a professional hitter and we look forward to seeing him in an Angels uniform in 2010."

His agent Arn Tellem wrote on the Huffington Post, "He has great affection for New York, a city that embraced him as a native son," but added, "In the weeks since the Series victory, it became abundantly clear that resigning Hideki was not one of the Yankees' priorities... Hideki takes special pride in being a complete player -- at the plate and in the outfield -- and from the start of negotiations, the Angels made every effort to accommodate him." (Matsui's past knee issues were an apparent concern of the Yankees.) "Ideally, Hideki would start in left at least once or twice a week. The rest of the time, he'd DH."

Tellem has a silver lining: "Happily, the Yankees' 2010 home opener is against the Angels on April 13. Hideki will be on hand --- kusuri-yubi (index finger) extended -- for the ring ceremony."

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By Jen Chung in News on December 16, 2009 2:12 PM

Comments [rss]

henryblemin

the man is getting a ring, sounds like someone thinks he deserves. there will always be two sides, but lets face it: matsui wins in the end ($ money wise of course!)

henryblemin

the man is getting a ring, sounds like someone thinks he deserves. there will always be two sides, but lets face it: matsui wins in the end ($ money wise of course!)

saratoga mind

how much revenue will the yanks lose without Yomiuri Shimbun advertising on the outfield wall?

skipgates

A real pro. Hate to see him go. Hope he does well except against the Yankees.

SP

Apparently he is quite the consummate porn aficionado, his collection is allegedly somewhere at 55,000 movies. A gentleman, and a scholar.

I am definitely sad to see him go, he was one of the most consistently productive players on the team since they acquired him.

govgovgobo

Thank you Cashman for not giving him a return deal.

From the experience reading Japanese sports media through out his career in NY.

He is far from a classy guy.

BTW kusuri-yubi means ring finger.

ANGRYGOD11

Matsui batted .300 facing righties or lefties and knocked out 30 home runs a year. For just 6.5 million for a single year contract, The Angels got a steal and a gentleman.

ganghiscon

Unfortunately, he won't be bringing the shallow RF wall with him to Anaheim, so expect that HR total to take a big hit.

mdow

Sad to see him go. The Yankees really piss me off sometimes...

marcasm

Thanks Godzilla, you were a class act.

Nyctini11

Class Act, you mean while he wasn't in the locker room beating off? Not sad to see him go at all.

John_Matrix

better that he leave new york a world series hero and to a top team than with blown out knees and retirement.

no more thrillas from godzilla.