Second baseman Kaz Matsui finalized a US$16.5 million, three-year contract with the Houston Astros on Sunday, a little more than a month after helping the Colorado Rockies to their first World Series appearance.
The 32-year-old switch-hitter batted .288 with four homers and 37 RBIs for Colorado, stealing 32 bases and scoring 84 runs -- his best totals in Major League Baseball. Houston swiped only 65 bases this year, the third-lowest in the National League.
General manager Ed Wade said Matsui will likely bat second, behind speedy center fielder Michael Bourn, acquired last month from the Philadelphia Phillies.
"Kaz is an ideal fit for our club," Wade said. "Kaz runs extremely well. He steals bases, moves runners and takes the extra base. He plays the game the right way."
Matsui gets a US$1.5 million signing bonus, payable upon approval, and yearly salaries of US$5 million. Houston will provide a translator and a physical therapist.
In addition, Matsui has a limited no-trade provision.
Matsui said through a translator: "After I became a free agent, the Houston Astros very strongly pursued me, and I feel I am needed by the Houston Astros."
The Astros committed 103 errors this year and Wade said Matsui will upgrade Houston's fielding.
"Kaz's defensive ability is outstanding," Wade said. "Being as strong as we can be up the middle defensively is very important to us. The addition of Kaz was very important to us."
Matsui has a .272 average in four seasons with the New York Mets (2004 to last year) and Colorado (last year and this year). He hit .304 with a home run in the playoffs, including his first career grand slam in the second game of the first-round series against the Phillies.
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