Yuki Matsui Close To Signing With Padres
11 months agoFree-agent left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui is close to signing a deal with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, according to a source. The 28-year-old Japanese hurler became available to MLB clubs this offseason when he exercised his international free-agent rights. Matsui has been a standout closer for the Rakuten Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball for the last seven years and will now finally make the move to major-league baseball in the United States. In the last three years with the Eagles, Matsui had an outstanding 1.42 ERA with a 36.4 percent strikeout rate. It's widely known that the Padres aren't going to re-sign left-handed closer Josh Hader this offseason, so Matsui could be in line to serve as SD's primary closer in 2024. He became the youngest player in Japan to reach 200 saves.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
Source: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand