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MLB - Sports Rumors

Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:52 am EST

Hideki Matsui done as a Yank?

By Mark J. Miller

“HidekiGodzilla crushed a city last night. It was New York Yankees designated hitter Hideki Matsui's(notes) six RBIs pounding at the walls of every Philadelphia Phillies fan home and favorite bar. But this could be Matsui's last call as a Yank. His four-year contract has now ended (as has Johnny Damon's)(notes) and the talk has been for some time that the team won't bring back both, according to the New York Daily News.

General manager Brian Cashman has apparently been saying that he'd like the team to get younger and more athletic and more versatile (and you'd hope cheaper), so paying Matsui a load of dough to DH doesn't seem to fit that mold. Damon is at least out in the field.

Catcher Jorge Posada(notes) will turn 39 next season so he may want to DH some. Alex Rodriguez(notes) may be getting some hip surgery this off-season so this team isn't getting any younger. Though they sure looked like a bunch of 6-year-olds bouncing up and down after the last out last night.

So Yankees fans may want to spend a little extra time cheering for the Series MVP Matsui when he floats by during the parade. Word has it he could be moving to the Great Northwest to play for the Seattle Mariners.

Source: New York Daily NewsNew Window

Related: Jorge Posada, Johnny Damon, Álex Rodríguez, Hideki Matsui, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners

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286 Comments

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  1. Artist formerly known as Evil Empire!
    1. Posted by Artist formerly known as Evil Empire! Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:58 am EST

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    Please re-sign Matsui. He is still clutch and who knows next year maybe he gets new life in those knees to spell Damon or whoever out in the field...either way Matsui was huge and is worth the money at the DH spot b/c we know what he brings to the table
  2. str A's hooter
    2. Posted by str A's hooter Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:58 am EST

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    Matsui went out with a bang! He's a hero in Japan, if not NY. Good luck! Great series!
  3. str A's hooter
    3. Posted by str A's hooter Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:03 am EST

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    Good morning! Artist
    Congadulations! again. Its been a pleasure sharing insights with you this season. You, Mark, Rob, and ppw are all very knowledgable and gentlemen. Good luck next year!
  4. davfied
    4. Posted by davfied Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:04 am EST

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    #27 #27 #27 #27. They should sign Matsui & Damon to a one +. #27, #27, #27!!!!!!!
  5. PhilipH
    5. Posted by PhilipH Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:10 am EST

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    "Damon is at least out in the field." Is that a good thing?
  6. dagoldeneagle
    6. Posted by dagoldeneagle Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:13 am EST

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    the yankees don't have to get younger cuz young guys suck.
    matsui and damon are really good players. if they wanna get rid of one of them, then they should bring back bobby abreu or gary sheffield.
    i don't buy into the hype about matt holliday, the guy doesn't cut it in the AL. jason bay's pitch selection is horrible and he can't hit changeup.
  7. Yanks/Giants
    7. Posted by Yanks/Giants Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:22 am EST

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    Yankees win theeee Yankeees WIN. Sign both to 1 year
  8. Edward K
    8. Posted by Edward K Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:22 am EST

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    Matsui was clutch when A-Rod and Tex's bats went cold against the Phils. He was like Scott Brocius during the late 90's in the World Series, but I think he will be better paid in Seattle playing with Ichiro. Thanks for the memories Matsui!!!! You'll always be a Yankee in my book and I'll aways be rooting for you.
  9. Bill G
    9. Posted by Bill G Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:27 am EST

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    Thanks Godzilla!
  10. joarby2
    10. Posted by joarby2 Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:32 am EST

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    I'll say it again...Damon has to go and Matsui has to stay! Matsui the best clutch hitter on the team since coming over from Japan. Bumped knee or not is still a clutch bat. He and Posada can split the DH spot...IMO this is a lot more effective. At 39 Posada needs to not play everyday...it is more efficient when he doesn't (I am reffering to his bats).
    Look, I have been right once too many about the NYY...I hope Management sees what I see! By the way, I was correct about Andy again as he closes out on all three series!!! All you Yankee fans on this board should be ashame of yourself for calling yourself a Yankee fan after the way you cast Andy aside during contract talk.
    In the end...we won! Beautiful season it was...#27. Congrat to all Yankee Fans!
  11. ny973832
    11. Posted by ny973832 Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:42 am EST

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    Matsui should not return as a Yankee. He played a hell of a game and came through when he was needed most. His world series play will go down as the reason why the Yankee won the series in 6, so he should take this moment and ride into the sunset as a hero, as Hideki Matsui - Philly slayer. Leave the Big Apple on a high note.
  12. The Real Deal
    12. Posted by The Real Deal Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:44 am EST

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    Congratulations once again to Yankee fans. Hard to say what will happen with Matsui.He might be back, Maybe he ends up with Ichiro in Seattle. My guess is that the Yanks sign either Holliday or Bay to play leftfield next year.
  13. Artist formerly known as Evil Empire!
    13. Posted by Artist formerly known as Evil Empire! Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:59 am EST

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    Joarby- I was correct about Andy. I said no way should they sign him for 16mil and they should get him for 5 plus incentives and that's what happened. Andy did great for us but Cashman made the right move with the negotations. Hopefully he resigns Matsui.
  14. Yelim
    14. Posted by Yelim Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:05 am EST

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    Matsui, Damon not Yankees. UNTHINKABLE.
  15. Furd (aka - Turd)
    15. Posted by Furd (aka - Turd) Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:08 am EST

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    Woke up this morning and recalled the great imaginary party I had with a bunch of Hooter girls last night at my place. I seem to recall posting stuff here, pretending to be a Hooters' girl. Oh well, I can put off an AA meeting for a day or two.
  16. The Bad Guy
    16. Posted by The Bad Guy Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:23 am EST

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    It doesn't matter because the Yanks will at least try to make it work whether it's with the veterans or not. Hopefully they'll be able to compete enough to defend their title next year.
  17. stewie
    17. Posted by stewie Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:26 am EST

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    Congrats to the Yankees and all their fans ! Parade tomorrow. Was a good series with the two best teams of 09 pitted against each other. Every game was close. The team that was behind always seemed to be in a spot to catch up. But in the end there was one winner. The Yanks were in my opinion the best team this year and proved it. Yankee haters get out the Alka Seltzer.
  18. joarby2
    18. Posted by joarby2 Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:28 am EST

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    artist, my point was that Andy was going to have a bounce back season and that he deserve the full 16Mil at the time of asking. Everyone based it on the fact that he didn't do well during the second half of the season! I knew that he would go down with some sort of injuries b/c of the anemic offense we had last year. This is what I was wrote many times on here last season. Everyone on here either said for him to accept the 5 or just retire as he was washed up. Many of you said the same about Moose the season b/f. I was the only one saying he would have a bounce back year with at least 15 victories...he ended up with a career high 20. For you to have suggested that Andy deserves the 5Mil plus some incentives would mean that Andy is no longer capable of being the Andy that is capable. You were correct in guessing what cashman did but you both were wrong on the value of Andy to this NYY team!
  19. Matt
    19. Posted by Matt Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:29 am EST

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    #18,
    Picking the winner of the World Series and sticking with them for a season is nice....but doesn't mean you know anything about baseball (though maybe you do). Settle down there.
    As far as Matsui......I think it is time for the Yanks to move on. Why did the Yanks not win a World Series since 2000 til last night? Because they kept going after big time hitters and not true baseball players. They finally realized you need relatively young, rising stars, which is what Tex and CC are. If you can get a guy like Holliday you do it. He'll be much better than Matsui over the next 3-4 years, same with Jason Bay.
    The Yanks would be absolutely foolish to bring back both Matsui and Damon. They will not win it again next year if they do that, period.
  20. Stephen M
    20. Posted by Stephen M Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:34 am EST

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    i think you have to resign matsui, he generates so much asian coin here in ny, i think it's a no brainer. i don't care how much you pay him, if he goes away, so does a few billion $. i know this is a sport, but it's a business also, a very high paying one at that. congrats mr steingrabber
  21. TonyMI
    21. Posted by TonyMI Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:34 am EST

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    I think the Yankees should decide if they are going to sign another (younger) free agent outfielder before deciding on whether to keep Damon or Matsui. If they get Matt Holliday or Jason Bay (or someone else better than Damon) to play LF, they don't need Damon. If they are not going to sign another OF, they have to keep Damon.
  22. Rob F
    22. Posted by Rob F Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:50 am EST

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    Congrats Yankees. Damon and Matsui both produced this year so it is a very tough decision, imo.
  23. stewie
    23. Posted by stewie Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:57 am EST

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    Geeze. I hope no one gets traded ,or is let go before the Parade. ( wink-wink)
  24. john p
    24. Posted by john p Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:59 am EST

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    It is very simple - sign both matsui and damon - if you develope younger players then you can trade damon for talent - matsui since he can only dh may not be one than can be traded - he probably would only go to seattle anyway -
    they need starting pitching - you have cc,aj - pettite may retire and chin ming wong - may be able to come back - so you have 2 maybe 3 - joba should be in pullpen - mariano is close to retiring - need a new closer - trade damon for pitcher if free agency has no one that yanks can use - need a stronger arm in outfield -
    yankees have alot to think about
  25. joarby2
    25. Posted by joarby2 Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:05 am EST

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    matt, if you could bring back Matsui for a part time role as a DH...would you? You mentioned CC and Tex...what wrong with AJ? Just b/c his numbers wasn't as dominant? Holliday will not be suitable for the NYY...I much rather have Nady back then signing Holliday...that would be a waste of big $$$. I think Bay is much more suitable but the Sox will feel the same and to be honest he is much better off at Fenway than at Yankees stadium. We need to find someone with speed and power for the OF situation.

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