The San Diego Padres have agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with Japanese left-handed pitcher Yuki Matsui. Before playing Major League Baseball, he played nine years for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball.
Matsui had a 1.57 earned run average in 57.1 innings pitched. He also earned a career-high and league-leading 39 saves with 72 strikeouts and a 0.89 WHIP. He has made 30 or more saves in four of his nine seasons with Tohoku.
Free agent LHP Yuki Matsui and the San Diego Padres are reportedly in agreement on a multi-year contract.
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 20, 2023
Matsui recorded a 1.57 ERA and 39 saves last season in the NPB. pic.twitter.com/hR5W7xBTMg
Aside from leading NPB in saves for three seasons, Matsui is also a five-time NPB All-Star. He has used his fastball, slider, and splitter to put out opposing batters.
Matsui is also a part of the Japanese team that won gold in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He also earned a silver medal in the 2013 Under-18 Baseball World Cup and a bronze in the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12.
Yuki Matsui could be Josh Hader’s replacement, as the latter is still exploring free agency. Meanwhile, the fallout continues from San Diego’s pitching rotation. Seth Lugo (three years, $45 million) and Michael Wacha (two years, $32 million) signed multi-year contracts with the Kansas City Royals.
Nick Martinez signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds, and Luis Garcia inked a one-year, $4.25 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels. Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell is also exploring his options.
Conversely, Matsui joins a pitching staff featuring Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Steven Wilson, and Robert Suarez. The Padres hope Matsui can help them improve from their 82-80 record last season.
Japanese pitchers have been the rave this offseason. Shohei Ohtani signed a ten-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, though he won’t pitch in 2024 due to an elbow surgery. While Kenta Maeda signed with the Detroit Tigers, Shota Imanaga is an international free agent.
Masahiro Tanaka, Kona Takahashi, and Naoyuki Uwasawa are all expected to become international free agents too. Finally, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is still meeting with teams interested in his services.
-Lance Fernandez