According to a Japanese newspaper, the Yankees are poised to offer Hideki Matsui a three-year deal worth $35.5 million. Sankei Sports reported the club is ready to open negotiations with the left fielder, who recently finished a three-year pact worth $21 million.
GM Brian Cashman didn’t return phone calls pertaining to the subject. While Matsui has been mum on the topic, the offer isn’t much more than the Yankees were talking about in spring training when Matsui told the team he would rather play the season than sign an extension.
The 31-year-old Matsui, who can become a free agent Nov. 15 if he and the Yankees don’t agree on a contract for 2006, hit .305 with 23 homers and drove in 116 runs. For his three years in America, Matsui is a .297 hitter with 70 homers and 330 RBIs. His solid regular season was tainted by a poor ALDS in which he batted .200 (4-for-20).