daigo.org RSSShort Stop Musical Chair
Kaz Matsui, who would-be-first-Japanese-infielder-in-MLB (*) is waiting. He was reportedly offered $20-24 mil 3 year deal from Mets (espn, nytimes, usatoday) but waiting to see what Angels and Dodgers will do. It all depends on our Boston Red Sox, all depends if Theo and the trio can move over-paid big baby Manny Ramirez for 2003 AL MVP, Alex Rodriguez. I know it’s crazy, when I first heard about this rumor back in November, I said “That would be nice but that would never happen.” Now the report and rumor is all over the place, since like Thursday (mlb.com, sportsline, boston.com, herald) and more I read about it, more it looks like it could happen. If and when this happens, our hero, the nicest guy in the team, Nomar Garciaparra is going to be the odd man out. Now here is where I am not crazy about this rumor. Nomar would never miss a weekend game with Yankees with “cold-like symptom” and later seen at the bar with a Yankee, and refuse to pinch hit, or blame the loss to a manager by telling reporters later that “he was actually tired”. Nomar is hard worker. But he is going to want close to $20 mil a year multi year deal, (Jeter is getting $19mil) and deserves it, but with Manny and Pedro here, it might tie up too much cash. Besides he’s a California guy and Dodgers and Angels would love to have him. So, the Southern California teams will wait for the A-Rod is going to Boston or not, and so Kaz Matsui has to wait. Meanwhile, Mets young Short Stop Jose Reyes will be moved to Second, Miguel Tejada will likely sign with Mariners. Geez, I though the Short Stop was a hard position to fill, but guess not..
BTW, it is amazing snow outside. I had to shovel the snow like four times already…
(*) So Taguchi played second base a few times 2003, so technically not the first, but Kaz would be first full time infielder.
