Angels do not offer salary arbitration to Hideki Matsui
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As expected, the Angels did not offer salary arbitration Tuesday to free-agent designated hitter Hideki Matsui, who batted .274 with 21 home runs and 84 runs batted in this past season. Reliever Scot Shields, the team’s only other free agent, is not expected to be offered salary arbitration, as well.
If Matsui, the 2009 World Series most valuable player with the New York Yankees, signs elsewhere, the Angels will not receive draft-pick compensation.
Tuesday’s decision does not prevent the Angels from re-signing Matsui, who led the major leagues with a .371 average (43 for 116) from Aug. 14 throught the end of the season, but the chances of the 36-year-old slugger returning to Anaheim appear remote.
The team is pursuing free-agent outfielder Carl Crawford aggressively, and if the Angels land Crawford or another free-agent outfielder, they will move corner outfielder Bobby Abreu to the DH spot.
--Mike DiGiovanna