» Matsui, Astros Ink $16.5 Million 3 Year Deal; Rowand, Others Offered Arbitration

Matsui, Astros Ink $16.5 Million 3 Year Deal; Rowand, Others Offered Arbitration

The Houston Astros and 2nd baseman Kaz Matsui have penned a 3 year deal worth $16.5 million.

The question is; will Matsui, who has yet to play a full season with any team, better his .288 batting average with 4 HRs and 37 RBIS, 84 Runs and 32 stolen bases in 104 games with Colorado in 2007?

The AP report provides background on the signing for Yahoo sports;

The 32-year-old switch-hitter batted .288 with four homers and 37 RBIs for Colorado, stealing 32 bases and scoring 84 runs — his best totals in the majors. Houston swiped only 65 bases this year, the third-lowest in the NL.

General manager Ed Wade said Matsui will likely bat second, behind speedy center fielder Michael Bourn, acquired last month from Philadelphia.

“Kaz is an ideal fit for our club,” Wade said. “Kaz runs extremely well. He steals bases, moves runners and takes the extra base. He plays the game the right way.”

Matsui gets a $1.5 million signing bonus, payable upon approval, and yearly salaries of $5 million. Houston will provide a translator and a physical therapist.

In addition, Matsui has a limited no-trade provision.

Yes, the acquisitions of Matsui and Bourn give the Astros great speed at the top of their lineup, but will Matsui live up to, or better his pay in the 2008 season? Matsui’s numbers in 2007 were but a shell of the Phillies’ 2nd baseman Chase Utley’s numbers; .332 BA, 22 Homers, 103 RBIs, 104 Runs in 132 games. But then Utley makes the big bucks; 7 years, $85 million.

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Phillies centerfielder Aaron Rowand, along with Yankees’ lefthander Andy Pettitte, Boston reliever Eric Gagne, Diamondbacks’ starter Livan Hernandez and others were offered salary arbitration.

AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum explains recent changes in the free agency/arbitration rules;

Before last year, the deadline day was Dec. 7 and players not offered arbitration couldn’t re-sign with their former teams until May 1. But under baseball’s new labor contract, agreed to during last year’s World Series, free agents can return to their former teams at any time.

However, by not offering arbitration, a club loses the right to receive amateur draft picks if it loses a highly ranked player to another team. Free agents offered arbitration have until Dec. 7 to accept.

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