*Photo from ESPN*
More and more Japanese talent is coming stateside. The San Diego Padres have signed LHP Yuki Matsui to a 5 year, $28 million contract, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The Padres have confirmed the news.
Matsui's contract has opt outs after the 2026 and 2027 seasons, with an injury clause also included that would turn the 5th year into a team option if he sustains a major elbow injury. The option would be worth $7 million. The contract is the largest awarded to a reliever this offseason, at least until Josh Hader signs somewhere.
The 28 year old spent last season with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan's NPB league. He had another dominating season, posting a 1.57 ERA and 0.890 WHIP, averaging 11.3 strikeouts per 9 innings with 39 saves in 57 1/3 innings pitched over 59 appearances.
For most of his career in Japan, Matsui served as a multi inning reliever after initially debuting as a starter, but converted to a one inning role a few seasons ago. In the past 3 seasons, he's struck out 214 hitters and notched a 1.42 ERA in 152 innings pitched.
Matsui has also made his name as a dominant closer. He had 3 straight seasons of 30 or more saves from 2015 to 2017 before getting just 5 in 2018. He rebounded with a 38 save season in 2019 and had 24 in 2021, 32 in 2022, and a career high 39 in 2023. He has had 6 seasons of at least 30 saves since 2015.
Having exercised his right to be an international free agent, Matsui leaves the NPB after 10 seasons with the Golden Eagles. He has a 2.40 ERA and 1.108 WHIP, averaging 4 walks and 11.7 strikeouts per 9 over 17 starts and 501 career appearances, totaling 659 2/3 innings pitched.
The signing of Matsui marks the first noteworthy addition in free agency by the Padres, who have traded Juan Soto to the New York Yankees and are set to lose Hader, Blake Snell, and more impact arms to other teams via free agency.
Comments
Post a Comment