Sleeper of the Week

Will he or won’t he? Perhaps the biggest question in baseball this offseason is whether Hideki Matsui, Japan’s premier power hitter, will decide to cross the Pacific or not. Matsui, known to his fans as “Godzilla,” would have no shortage of suitors. The Yankees, in particular, are expected to make a huge effort to add Matsui to their already star-studded lineup. Whether the Yankees’ new working association with Matsui’s Central League team, the Yomiuri Giants, will play a role in Matsui’s decision remains to be seen, but it definitely seems to be one of several points in New York’s favor. Yankee Stadium would certainly be a great place for the left-handed slugger to showcase his talent.

Hideki Matsui’s skills at the plate are unquestioned. He narrowly missed winning the triple crown this year, hitting .334 with 50 homers, and he turns his ability to draw walks into a huge asset. The only question is whether Matsui, who is a free agent, decides to stay in Japan, remaining with the Giants and getting another shot at breaking the single-season home run mark (55, held by Sadaharu Oh, Tuffy Rhodes and Alex Cabrera), or looks for new challenges in the Majors. So far, Matsui has given no indication of which way he is leaning, leaving the baseball world in suspense.

Should Matsui come to the US in 2003, expect him to put up excellent numbers. 40+ hr, a .300+ average and 100 walks doesn’t sound like an unreasonable estimate, although projecting numbers for players crossing over from Japan is difficult. Don’t hesitate to add him to your fantasy outfield, but don’t expect him to be a draft-day bargain. If Hideki Matsui brings his bat to America, he’ll receive lots of press. If he does join the Yankees, expect the hype surrounding him to surpass even Ichiromania. Godzillamania, here we come!

Update: It’s official: Hideki Matsui will be coming to the majors in 2003. The New York Yankees signed Godzilla to a three-year deal worth a reported $21 million, along with performance bonuses. Matsui should fit in well with his new team, and Yankee Stadium just might be the most favorable park for the left-handed slugger east of Coors. If the media pressure doesn’t get to Matsui, he could turn into an excellent outfielder and an asset to any fantasy roster. Stay tuned, and watch his spring training appearances closely…