Left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on a five-year, $28 million contract, sources told ESPN, the first money spent by the Padres this winter after a free agent splurge last year.
Matsui, 28, has been a frontline closer in Japan for almost all of his decade-long career with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
He has saved 236 games and posted a 2.40 ERA over 659.2 innings, striking out 860 and walking 295. In 2023, he saved a career-best 39 games and punched out 72 with just 13 walks in 57.1 innings.
The deal includes opt-outs after the third and fourth seasons for Matsui, sources said. If Matsui suffers a serious elbow injury during the deal, the Padres can convert the fifth guaranteed year into a club option for $7 million.