Free-agent slugger and three-time Central League MVP Hideki Matsui reached a basic agreement with the New York Yankees on a three-year deal that will send him to the major leagues after 10 years with the Yomiuri Giants, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.
"The sides agreed on the basic structure of Matsui's salaries over the three years," said a lawyer familiar with the negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
But they "had not agreed on possible performance bonuses or whether to include an option for a fourth season," the lawyer was quoted as saying.
The New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers had also shown interest in the 28-year-old outfielder, who led the CL with 50 homers and 107 RBIs and helped Yomiuri to the Japan Series championship in 2002. He also had the second-best mark in the league with a .334 batting average.
Matsui turned down a five-year deal from Yomiuri last December, opting instead for a one-year, 610 million yen deal in an apparent move to prepare himself for a shot at the major leagues by testing the free-agent market.
Matsui has been linked with the Yankees ever since he filed for free agency and earlier this month hired Arn Tellem of sports-marketing firm SFX Sports Group, who has a close connection with the American League club.
A native of Ishikawa Prefecture, Matsui, nicknamed "Godzilla," joined the Yomiuri Giants in 1993 as the top draft pick after graduating from Seiryo High School.
He has a career average of .304 with 1,390 hits, 332 homers and 889 RBIs in 1,268 games.