Padres sign Japanese pitcher Matsui to five-year MLB deal

English Woman's Journal - Padres sign Japanese pitcher Matsui to five-year MLB deal

SPORTS 24.12.2023

Padres sign Japanese pitcher Matsui to five-year MLB deal / Photo: Kazuhiro NOGI - AFP/File

Yuki Matsui, a three-time season saves leader in Japan's Pacific League, signed a five-year Major League Baseball contract with the San Diego Padres, the US club announced on Saturday.

Change text size:

Matsui, a 28-year-old Japanese left-hander, has spent the past 10 years in Nippon Professional Baseball, where he made 236 saves in 501 career appearances for the Tohuku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

The five-time All-Star had a 2.40 career earned-run average in Japan with 860 strikeouts and led in saves in 2019 and the past two seasons.

Terms of the contract were not revealed but it reportedly pays Matsui $28 million with opt outs after the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

Matsui, who also pitched for this year's Japan championship team in the World Baseball Classic, posted a 1.57 ERA this season with a career-best 39 saves and 72 strikeouts over 59 games.

The Padres have emphasized pitching in the off-season, bringing in four pitchers in a blockbuster trade deal with the New York Yankees for slugger Juan Soto.

San Diego's first off-season free agent signing comes two days after reports the Los Angeles Dodgers, a National League West division rival of the Padres, had agreed to a 12-year deal worth $325 million with Japanese ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

S.Smith--EWJ

FA Cup Second-Round Draw Confirmed for Non-League and Midlands Clubs

The FA Cup second-round draw has been finalized, setting up crucial ties for non-league teams aiming to reach the third round proper. Several clubs from the Midlands, including Burton Albion and Kidderminster Harriers, have secured their next opponents following recent victories over lower-league opposition.

Panthers expected to begin 2027 NRL season away from new stadium

The new Penrith Stadium is expected to be ready in time for the opening round of the 2027 NRL season, but it’s still likely the Panthers is expected to be on the road for their early matches. There is no delay to the build of the new $309 million venue but there’s a lack of appetite for risk around weather delays through the summer.

Tayyab Arif hits 57 on Pakistan Test debut against Sri Lanka

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Tayyab Arif smashed an aggressive half-century on debut and provided a new-look Pakistan lineup a confident start to the first cricket test against Sri Lanka on Monday. The 20-year-old Tayyab struck nine boundaries and a six in his 57-run knock as Pakistan reached 137-2 at lunch on a greenish wicket that lured Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis to bowl first after winning the toss.

English Woman's Journal - Padres sign Japanese pitcher Matsui to five-year MLB deal