Jon Weisman brings us news today, via ESPN LA's Tony Jackson, the Dodgers are interested former Athletic, Angel and Yankee Hideki Matsui.
Weisman said Jackson told him in an email there are three players on the Dodgers' list to fill the "left-handed pinch-hitter" role, and Matsui is one of them.
Matsui, 37, had career lows across the board for the A's last season: .251/.321/.375/.696, 92 OPS+. The 2009 World Series MVP is mainly a designated hitter, but he can play left field in a pinch (232 1/3 innings in LF last season).
Weisman also notes his strange reverse splits:
vs. RHP: .242/.318/.336, 4 HR
vs. LHP: .273/.327/.468, 8 HR
In 2009, he posted a .975 OPS vs. lefties (.835 vs. righties), so it isn't that uncommon for Godzilla. For his career, Matsui has an OPS of .840 vs. RHP and .808 vs. LHP.
Without knowing the other two names, it's hard to comment on whether this would be a good pickup for the Dodgers. However, I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him in Dodger Blue on a cheap 1-year deal. He seemingly still has some pop left in his bat, which is something the Dodgers lacked off the bench last season (and recent years).
Maybe he could also give Andre Ethier some pointers on how to hit left-handed pitching a little better.
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