Matsui Rumor: Signed With Cubs

by clack on Nov 28, 2007 8:44 AM CST

This is according to a Denver radio station. Richard Justice's blog in the HC carries the report. Supposedly Matsui signed with the cubbies for 3/$14
million.

Update: After several hours have gone by, I am increasingly skeptical of this rumor. No web sites confirm the rumor, and at least one web site declares the rumor false. Richard Justice's blog carries the disclaimer that he doesn't know if it is true. So, hold off on thinking that Matsui is off the market for certain.

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that leaves Iguchi or nothing for free agent 2B signings. that's how my thinking has gone since the Bourn signing.

also, i don't know if it's final, but according to the Free Agent Updates on MLB.com, Linebrink has already signed with the White Sox. they're just waiting on a physical to make it official. i guess with the Brocail signing, we now have a myriad of candidates for the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings (Qualls, Sarfate, Geary, Brocail). what we really need is a closer and a lefty, and Linebrink doesn't fit into either of those categories. have the Astros even been linked to any of the other more obvious closer candidates on the market? i guess Percival. i can see Qualls fitting into the closer role, as has been discussed here before, but it would seem odd for a team to enter a season with nobody that has any significant experience as a MLB closer. i guess we'll just have to wait and see.

by littlevisigoth on Nov 28, 2007 12:53 PM CST reply actions

Not sure where to put this

but I read this on one of the main site articles:

"Of the club's free agents, Mike Lamb, Mark Loretta, Orlando Palmeiro, Brian Moehler and Jason Jennings, the Astros would like to have Lamb, Loretta and PALMEIRO back but won't sign all three." (emphasis mine)

really? they want Paleiro back? why?

i also found interesting that when they mentioned the Yordany Ramirez acquisition, they said he "figures significantly into their future plans". i still don't understand this one. he seems to me just to be a low risk, insurance move. if they believe Bourn is their answer in center and with Pence and Lee seeming to be stalwarts in their lineup for the next several years, how do they figure Ramirez to be a significant part of their future plans?

by littlevisigoth on Nov 29, 2007 8:57 AM CST reply actions

Astros' depth chart...

at mlb.com (OK, I know it doesn't mean a whole lot) shows Y. Ramirez at the principal back up at CF and LF. Perhaps that means that they expect him to be the 4th OFer next year. Maybe that is "significant." I suppose it is for a 23 year old. I think the Astros are trying to say that they like Yorvany Ramirez a lot. As for the Palmiero reference, that got my attention too. Please...no, don't bring him back. I saw an article which said that OP is considering offers from several other clubs like the Angels and Cards...maybe he will go elsewhere.

As for the Matsui question, I originally was kind of opposed to signing him. Gradually I have come around to the idea that signing him might not be so bad. As for Loretta, the Rockies' GM is quoted as saying that they may sign Loretta to replace Matsui.

by clack on Nov 29, 2007 9:42 AM CST up reply actions

Astros

Signed Jose Cruz Jr. to a minor league contract and are inviting him to Spring Training. Just for fun, I guess...

Lee, Pence, Scott in '08

by entropic soul on Nov 29, 2007 1:13 PM CST reply actions

signed four total

none are likely to break camp with the big club, except maybe Randolph if he can somehow translate his AAA success last year to the MLB level and be a lefty in our pen (hopefully not the only one... not just for the need to have more than one, but more for the need to have him not be our only lefty choice).

by littlevisigoth on Nov 29, 2007 4:27 PM CST up reply actions

Isn't McLemore still in the mix?

I know he wasn't "great" against lefties, but I liked what I saw from him.

I'm sure someone will come up with some stat thatt blows my hunch out of the water... I'm of the old-fashioned "watch the damn game" school of rating players.

by TexSkins on Nov 29, 2007 6:31 PM CST up reply actions

Not great against LHB....

an understatement. His splits: LHB .419BAA, 2.67 WHIP; RHB .209 BAA, 1.23 WHIP.

The trouble with McLemore is that managers want a lefthander that they can use against lefthanded bats, and McLemore is terrible for that role. I would much rather bring Trevor Miller back than use Randolph as "the lefthander." I'm not sold on McLemore in the bullpen, but he might be OK in a long relief role. But guys like Sampson or Albers could be competing for that slot, depending on what happens in spring training. Right now the bullpen is looking crowded, though.

by clack on Nov 29, 2007 6:47 PM CST up reply actions

Randolph

can't throw strikes. And his best pitch is the change. A pitch traditionally used to get out opposite handed batters. Miller will get a better offer elsewhere. McLemore will be fine. I really hope he gets a good shot to make the team.

Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Nov 29, 2007 8:49 PM CST up reply actions

Those are interesting splits...

but I'd take .209 / 1.23 from ANY reliever any day. Now you got me wondering, so I'm doing some investigating...

The splits to follow will be the bullpen's WHIP / BAA vs. left then vs. right.

Bork: 2.24 / .300 and 1.16 / .256
Qualls: 1.12 / .248 and 1.48 / .289
Lidge: 1.00 / .184 and 1.46 / .243
Miller: 1.18 / .209 and 1.76 / .289
Wheeler (obviously his combined stats): 1.37 / .260 and 1.24 / .253

Some with a smaller smapling:

Paulino: 2.00 / .310 and 1.25 / .277
Patton: 0.30 / .100 and 1.39 / .243
Gutierrez: 0.84 / .216 and 2.06 / .362
Sarfate: 0.60 / .182 and 0.80 / .167

And the new guys:

Geary: 1.36 / .248 and 1.50 / .309
Brocail: 1.05 / .182 and 1.29 / .268
Villarreal: 1.82 / .315 and 1.11 / .220

And just for kicks:

Springer: 1.23 / .235 and 0.78 / .158

Some interesting splits... Springer looked wicked good.

by TexSkins on Nov 29, 2007 9:38 PM CST up reply actions

Qualls used to be used...

for LHP-like matchups on occasion in previous seasons, particularly when the Astros didn't have a lefthander available. You can see why. Maybe Brocail fits in that same category--a RHP pitcher who is tough on LHB?

by clack on Nov 29, 2007 9:49 PM CST up reply actions

WELLLLL.........

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5340665.html

Astros are getting ready to sign Matsui.

Wandilicious!!!

by saylinara on Nov 29, 2007 10:52 PM CST reply actions

nice catch

I believe this will be the worst FA signing this year. yes, even worse than torii hunter.

by bigfatdrunk on Nov 29, 2007 11:00 PM CST up reply actions

I like the idea...

As long as we didn't pay too much for him. I would have been willing to give Burke another shot, but if not, that's fine too. In any case, this is an all around improvement over 2B of 2007. Now if there were only some way to improve 3B, I'd be set (everyday player-wise.)

Lee, Pence, Scott in '08

by entropic soul on Nov 29, 2007 11:10 PM CST up reply actions

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