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12/04/2003 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball News: Announcement of Matsui to Dodgers Expected Next Week"
And Another Ishii Wants to Go to L.A., Too
According to Sports Nippon, family members surrounding Kazuo Matsui are saying that the superstar infielder has pretty much decided to throw in his lot with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Moreover, a formal statement to that effect is expected to be made sometime next week.
The report cites the fact that Los Angeles is home to tens of thousands of Japanese and Japanese-Americans and that the ballclub also has a Japanese trainer on its staff. In addition, the shortstop job is open and, with Mike Kinkade signing with Hanshin, Matsui will be able to wear his customary number 7.
The Japanese press has also speculated that in order to pay for Matsui's acquisition, they will move Kevin Brown, probably to the Yankees. Too, due to their signing Gary Sheffield, it is thoiught that the New York side will now bow out of the Matsui free agent saga.
The Mets are still hopeful of getting their hands on the speedster, with youngster Jose Reyes reportedly receptive to moving to second base upon the PL Gakuen High grad'scoming to the organization. However, that looks like a moot point now.
And in more news that should please Dodgers GM Dan Evans, fireballing lefty reliever Hirotoshi Ishii, 26, told team officials today at a negotiating session that he wants to be posted to MLB after next season and that he wants to "follow [Kazuhisa] Ishii." Ishii has been clocked as high as 97mph. Ishii would be a superior addition to a Dodgers pen that recently lost Paul Qauntrill to the Yanks. However, with star third baseman Akinori Iwamura, who can also play second and centerfield, also looking at a possible posting after the 2004 schedule concludes, it remains to be seen just how much Yakult management will be willing to part with. The Swallows have one of the top two bullpens in the Central League, but Ishii's departure would hurt that deeply, especially if closer Shingo Takatsu catches a job with an MLB team.
Replies: 3 comments
The AP reports that Kazuo Matsui has signed with the Mets. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-mets-matsui&prov=ap&type=lgns
Posted by Will @ 12/07/2003 09:02 PM EST
The market for Kaz is crashing all around him. He's the unintended victim of the ARod for Manny, then trade Nomar rumors that are swirling. But for those, LA, Anaheim and the Mets would be beating down Matsui's perverbial doors to sign him.
Posted by Will @ 12/07/2003 06:13 PM EST
Report: Matsui, Mets have a deal
"The Dodgers were rumored to be Matsui's top choice, but GM Dan Evans confirmed to The Post on Friday that Matsui was not a top priority and that 'there are other things we're exploring.'"
A very surprising development, if true.
Posted by Jeff @ 12/06/2003 04:42 PM EST
