Quote from dusty on December 19, 2023, 10:07 am

Looks like we are close to signing Matsui! Be interesting for how much and how this affects other signings and roster construction

Quote from fenn68 on December 19, 2023, 10:22 am

Quote from dusty on December 19, 2023, 10:07 am

Looks like we are close to signing Matsui! Be interesting for how much and how this affects other signings and roster construction

Yeh, that would really move the speculation in different directions ... almost no matter what his AAV is (and will not be low end). Would be consistent with Preller's narrative on focusing on more pitching (and be opposite my thinking ... not shocked).

Would have to think Preller believes he can pull together enough for the position needs without really going very high in salaries.

Quote from fenn68 on December 19, 2023, 10:24 am

Heard on  the D.Smith show that the Padres owe the league about $40MM on January 31st as the penalty cost for exceeding the luxury tax thresholds for the 3rd time in 2023.

Quote from WindsorUK on December 19, 2023, 10:34 am

Who is Matsui?????

Quote from fenn68 on December 19, 2023, 10:38 am

And now for some unfounded speculation base:

Shildt is in the DR to watch the winer league games. Tatis is playing ... wait for it ... CF. Is it just a winter league head fake OR is the grand plan to shift Tatis to CF? (I wouldn't but it is easier to get an impact corner OF than a high quality CF).

Profar is the line-up ... at 1B.

Raimel Tapia (LHH corner OF, 29) is also playing ... a FA ... could be a low cost filler for the corner OF.

Signing Profar and Tapia should be a low cost option for two of the four open position players (may be needed if they sign Matsui) ... and to start the season with Machado as the DH, Profar can start at 1B with Cronenworth and Kim shifting ... after he is the super utility guy INF/OF/DH. Any money remaining targets corner OF?

Quote from fenn68 on December 19, 2023, 10:39 am

Quote from WindsorUK on December 19, 2023, 10:34 am

Who is Matsui?????

LH relief pitcher coming over from Japan ... pithed for Japan in the WBC.

Quote from fenn68 on December 19, 2023, 11:02 am

Quote from fenn68 on December 19, 2023, 10:39 am

Quote from WindsorUK on December 19, 2023, 10:34 am

Who is Matsui?????

LH relief pitcher coming over from Japan ... pithed for Japan in the WBC.

From Fangraphs:

Matsui’s combination of splitter quality, fastball shape and angle, and excellent command make him a viable, platoon-neutral big league middle reliever. He first appeared on the International Players section of The Board last year when he posted the second-highest swinging strike rate in NPB behind Livan Moinelo (a name to stash away for next offseason). Despite sitting mostly 91-94 throughout the season, he ranked fourth in K% in 2023 among pitchers who threw at least 40 innings (32.4%) because his fastball misses a ton of bats at the letters thanks to its flat approach angle and vertical movement. The supremely athletic 5-foot-8 lefty has a due north arm slot that helps impart a nearly perfect backspinning axis on his fastball. Sometimes pitchers with this high a slot end up having a steep, downhill fastball angle, but Matsui’s lack of size helps counterbalance that, and his bouncy on-mound athleticism should enable him to hold up across a typical big league relief workload despite being so small. As pedestrian as Matsui’s fastball velocity is, his splitter is quite firm (usually 86-88 mph) and is his most-used secondary pitch. His usage of it has increased in each of the last several seasons and grew to a career-high 35% in 2023. Matsui also has a true two-plane mid-80s slider that is of big league quality, but his usage of it was cut nearly in half in 2023, way down to 10%. It’s a good looking pitch and probably deserves more air time. Despite lacking typical big league reliever arm strength, Matsui looks like a very stable and versatile big league middle reliever. – EL

Cost guess was 3 years at $10MM AAV. Note was a quality closer in Japan and still in his 20s.

Quote from WindsorUK on December 19, 2023, 11:02 am

Certainly wouldn't spend much money on a reliever from outside MLB......would they? I assume this guy is coming over to establish himself. If so, can't expect too much.

 

Quote from WindsorUK on December 19, 2023, 11:05 am

Quote from fenn68 on December 19, 2023, 11:02 am

Quote from fenn68 on December 19, 2023, 10:39 am

Quote from WindsorUK on December 19, 2023, 10:34 am

Who is Matsui?????

LH relief pitcher coming over from Japan ... pithed for Japan in the WBC.

From Fangraphs:

Matsui’s combination of splitter quality, fastball shape and angle, and excellent command make him a viable, platoon-neutral big league middle reliever. He first appeared on the International Players section of The Board last year when he posted the second-highest swinging strike rate in NPB behind Livan Moinelo (a name to stash away for next offseason). Despite sitting mostly 91-94 throughout the season, he ranked fourth in K% in 2023 among pitchers who threw at least 40 innings (32.4%) because his fastball misses a ton of bats at the letters thanks to its flat approach angle and vertical movement. The supremely athletic 5-foot-8 lefty has a due north arm slot that helps impart a nearly perfect backspinning axis on his fastball. Sometimes pitchers with this high a slot end up having a steep, downhill fastball angle, but Matsui’s lack of size helps counterbalance that, and his bouncy on-mound athleticism should enable him to hold up across a typical big league relief workload despite being so small. As pedestrian as Matsui’s fastball velocity is, his splitter is quite firm (usually 86-88 mph) and is his most-used secondary pitch. His usage of it has increased in each of the last several seasons and grew to a career-high 35% in 2023. Matsui also has a true two-plane mid-80s slider that is of big league quality, but his usage of it was cut nearly in half in 2023, way down to 10%. It’s a good looking pitch and probably deserves more air time. Despite lacking typical big league reliever arm strength, Matsui looks like a very stable and versatile big league middle reliever. – EL

Cost guess was 3 years at $10MM AAV. Note was a quality closer in Japan and still in his 20s.

$10 million a year for a specialist??? On this team???? Not when we need 2 starters, 2 outfielders and a DH( I'm assuming one of the OF's or DH's will man 1B, since we don't have one of those either.)

Pass.