TaborJet Posted November 15, 2005 Share Posted November 15, 2005 Yankees and Matsui close to deal worth about $52 million ASSOCIATED PRESS Hideki Matsui and the Yankees closed in Tuesday on a four-year contract worth about $52 million that will keep the popular outfielder in New York Matsui's agent, Arn Tellem, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman faced hoped to reach an agreement by the end of the night, meeting the Nov. 15 deadline contained in Matsui's first contract with the Yankees. That deal stated that if there is no agreement by then, New York must place the outfielder on unconditional release waivers, which would mean the Yankees could not re-sign him until May 15. Matsui is coming off a $21 million, three-year contract in which he earned an additional $1.5 million in performances bonuses. A three-time MVP in Japan's Central League with the Yomiuri Giants, Matsui has been one of the Yankees more productive hitters. He batted .305 with 23 homers and 116 RBIs last season. After agreeing to a new contract to stay on as general manager, Cashman said that re-signing Matsui was his first priority. In other Yankees news, New York exercised its $1.5 million option on reliever Tanyon Sturtze rather than paying a $150,000 buyout. The 35-year old right-hander was 5-3 with a 4.73 ERA and one save in one start and 63 relief appearances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barton Posted November 16, 2005 Share Posted November 16, 2005 HOLY CRAP! Tanyon Sturtze is 35 years old? I frickin thought he was in his 20's! Why bother bringing him back? He's 35, he has no room for improvement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbn007 Posted November 16, 2005 Share Posted November 16, 2005 HOLY CRAP! Tanyon Sturtze is 35 years old? I frickin thought he was in his 20's! Why bother bringing him back? He's 35, he has no room for improvement. I wonder if bringing Sturtze back signals that Cashman has a deal involving a starter in mind!! He now has 7 starters. Randy isn't going anywhere. Moose, Pavano and Wright are virtually untradeable. Wang and Chacon are young guys, who Cashman has sent signals that he would like to keep. That leaves Small, who also was the one most likely to adapt to the Sturtze job. So, Maybe a deal involving Small is in the works. He is 33, and comes cheap. Maybe he is going to Pittsburg or KC for one of their bullpen guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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