Breaking: Game-Changer Deal Sealed! Padres Lock Arms with Star Reliever Yuki Matsui in Epic 5-Year Pact. Yuki Matsui, a left-handed reliever. And the San Diego Padres have reached an agreement on a five-year. $28 million contract sources told ESPN. This is the Padres’ first winter spending spree following last year’s free agency explosion.
San Diego made the announcement about the agreement on Saturday night but they withheld the specifics.
Over the course of his ten-year career with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Matsui. His 28 has been a frontline closer in Japan. In 659.2 innings. He has recorded a 2.40 ERA saved 236 games. struck out 860 batters. And walked 295 in his career. He had a career-high 39 saves in 2023. They struck out 72 batters in 57.1 innings while only issuing 13 walks.
According to reports, Matsui has opt-outs following the third and fourth seasons of the agreement. The Padres may turn Matsui’s fifth guaranteed year into a $7 million club. Option if he has a significant elbow injury during the contract.
The Padres will bolster a bullpen that lost closer Josh Hader and right-hander. Nick Martinez to free agency. Traded right-hander Scott Barlow, and nontendered left-hander Tim Hill. This comes after an offseason in which they shed nearly $100 million from last year’s. Payroll via trades and players who hit free agency.
San Diego signed free agents for almost to $400 million last winter. Led by an 11-year $280 million contract for Xander Bogaerts.
Matsui’s contract is the third five-year agreement in Major League Baseball for a reliever;
The other two are New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz, who is starting the second season of a five-year, $102 million deal, and teammate Robert Suarez, who inked a five-year contract for $46 million last winter.
Although Hader and the right-handers Jordan Hicks, Robert Stephenson, and Hector Neris are the finest relievers available, this is the biggest contract offered to a relief pitcher this winter.
After spending $255 million on salaries and incurring an additional $39.7 million in luxury taxes, San Diego, under the management of new manager Mike Shildt, entered the winter season under severe financial constraints. Before adding Matsui, the Padres’ opening-day 2024 payroll was estimated by Baseball Prospectus to be about $148.4 million, after they traded star outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Yankees.
Despite being only 5-foot-8, Matsui has a powerful fastball that carries well from a low arm slot and reaches speeds of up to 95 mph. According to assessors, he also occasionally throws a slider and a split-fingered fastball.
