Hideki Matsui and the Los Angeles Angels have reportedly agreed to a one-year contract, ending Matsui's seven-year run with the Yankees that culminated in a World Series Most Valuable Player award last month: Matsui Agrees With the Angels.
According to an official involved in the negotiations, Matsui agreed with the Angels on Monday. Matsui decided to take the Angels' offer rather than wait and see if the Yankees would bring him back. While the Yankees never closed the door to his return, they haven't exactly been clamoring for it. More here: Angels want Matsui to DH.
Last season, Matsui, 35, played 142 games and hit .272 with 28 homers and 90 runs batted in last season. He was 8 for 13 (.615) with three homers and eight R.B.I. in the Yankees' six-game World Series victory over the Phillies.
Matsui will receive $6.5 million from the Angels. I'll be weird to see him in an Angels uniform. Then again, I'm sure Yomiuri Giants fans thought it was weird to see him in a Yankees uniform. But get this -- The Yankees’' 2010 home opener is against the Angels on April 13. So Matsui will be there for the ring ceremony.
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