The San Diego Padres just made their first big splash of the 2023 MLB offseason, signing a top pitcher from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league (NPB) — although it isn't one of the two Japanese pitchers most fans were clamoring for.
On Wednesday, the Padres announced their signing of Yuki Matsui, a left-handed reliever who previously played with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of the NPB.
Free agent LHP Yuki Matsui and the San Diego Padres are reportedly in agreement on a multi-year contract.
Matsui recorded a 1.57 ERA and 39 saves last season in the NPB. pic.twitter.com/hR5W7xBTMg
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 20, 2023
While Matsui's NPB posting this offseason didn't receive the same headlines as other Japanese superstars — namely, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto — San Diego bolstering their bullpen with Matsui is still an excellent signing, considering all that the 28 year old lefty closer has accomplished during his playing days in Japan.
Last season with the Golden Eagles, Matsui posted an ERA of 1.57 and 39 saves across 59 games. Over his 10 seasons in the NPB, Matsui produced an impressive 2.40 ERA and 236 saves — making him the league's youngest player to eclipse 200 saves in his career. Matsui was also a five-time NPB All-Star, and three-time saves champion in the NPB's Pacific League.
The Padres bringing Matsui on board makes perfect sense, given that Josh Hader, their left-handed closer in 2023, is currently a free agent, and is likely to sign elsewhere this offseason. Hopefully for the Padres, Matsui will be able to fill the hole that Hader's absence will create in the back of their bullpen.
That being said, some people around the league question whether Matsui will be able to replicate his NPB success in the MLB. At 5-foot-8 and 167-pounds, Matsui will be one of the smallest pitchers in the entire MLB next season. His fastball sits in the low-90s — well below average for MLB relievers — and his two secondary pitches, a change-up and slider, are considered average at best.
Also of note is that Matsui had a 9.4% walk rate during his 10 NPB seasons; which, while not astronomically high, is still a potential red flag, considering his sub-par fastball velocity compared to other closers.
Yet, if Matsui is able to replicate (or at least come close to replicating) his past success, signing him is still a win for the Padres. With the departure of Juan Soto to the Yankees, and their NL West Division rivals making major moves in recent weeks — with the Giants signing Jung Hoo Lee and the Dodgers signing Ohtani — the San Diego brass needed to convince their fanbase that they still intend to contend for the NL West crown come 2024.
