Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsWednesday, July 8, 2026

Report: Hideki Matsui To Sign Minor-League Deal With Rays

SEATTLE - Hideki Matsui #55 of the Oakland Athletics hits a RBI single in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE - Hideki Matsui #55 of the Oakland Athletics hits a RBI single in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE - Hideki Matsui #55 of the Oakland Athletics hits a RBI single in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
Getty Images

The Tampa Bay Rays enjoyed decent production from their DH last year, Johnny Damon, but they ditched him to sign Luke Scott for $6 million. That's a costly player by Rays standards, and through 12 games, he has three homers and a .600 slugging percentage.

But another left-handed bat wouldn't hurt, certainly, and to that end, the Rays are reportedly about to sign Hideki Matsui to a minor-league deal:

Matsui had an up-and-down year for the A's, and was one of the many left-handed veterans scrambling for the two DH spots that were eventually filled by Scott and Raul Ibanez.

The default left-handed bat on the Rays' bench is the newly acquired Brandon Allen, though Elliot Johnson is a switch-hitter. Matsui's signing might mean a trip to Durham for one of them. Or it might be trip to Durham for Matsui, from which he shall never escape. I hear Durham is nice this time of year.

See More:

More in General

From SBNationExternal Link
LeBron, Jaylen, and more offseason news and opinion in the NBA Feed!LeBron, Jaylen, and more offseason news and opinion in the NBA Feed!
From SBNationExternal Link
News, analysis, opinions to get ready for this weekend’s British Grand PrixNews, analysis, opinions to get ready for this weekend’s British Grand Prix
GeneralFromPosting and Toasting
An SB Nation New Yorker needs our helpAn SB Nation New Yorker needs our help
GeneralFromPosting and Toasting
General
Sabastian Sawe breaks 2-hour barrier, shatters marathon world recordSabastian Sawe breaks 2-hour barrier, shatters marathon world record
General

The mythical two-hour mark was broken at the London Marathon.

By Bernd Buchmasser
A Huge Dog
THE HISTORY OF CHARGING THE MOUND, EPISODE 1THE HISTORY OF CHARGING THE MOUND, EPISODE 1
Play
General
Super Bowl 60 coin toss resultsSuper Bowl 60 coin toss results
General

The Seahawks and Patriots will open the Super Bowl with the coin toss to determine who starts with the ball. We have the full coin toss results for Super Bowl 60.

By David Fucillo