The Orioles worked to establish their first contact with Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui yesterday after receiving a letter he sent to all 30 major-league teams.
Orioles vice president for baseball operations Syd Thrift said he sent an e-mail to Matsui, expressing the club's interest. The club later sent Matsui an overnight package with brochures and other information about Baltimore, the Orioles and Camden Yards.
Once contact is established, the Orioles might follow with an offer, but Thrift and Orioles owner Peter Angelos would not specify. Matsui hit 50 home runs last season for the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League, and the Orioles view him as the sort of power hitter they need for the middle of their batting order.
The Orioles have already expressed interest in four prominent free-agent hitters: Cleveland Indians first baseman Jim Thome, Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox outfielder Cliff Floyd and New York Mets third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo.
They are also considering a run at Chicago White Sox free-agent first baseman Frank Thomas and consider Matsui another option.
"We are pretty interested [in Matsui]," Thrift said. "We just want to know what his interest is in us."
Matsui, 28, is the latest star from Japan to make himself available for the major leagues, joining the likes of Hideo Nomo, Ichiro Suzuki and Kazuhiro Sasaki, who each won a Rookie of the Year award his first season in the majors.
The New York Yankees sent team president Randy Levine and general manager Brian Cashman to Japan this week, ostensibly to sign a working agreement with Matsui's old team, Yomiuri. But there have been widespread reports that the Yankees' contingent will also try to woo Matsui with a contract for up to $24 million over three years.
By sending letters to all 30 teams, Matsui is trying to keep his options open. And there is speculation in Japan that he would be willing to sign with a major-league team for something closer to $15 million over three years.
"I read in the paper that [the Yankees' officials] are coming," Matsui told reporters yesterday. "As of now, I have no plans to meet with them."
The Orioles have not had one of their own scouts watch Matsui in person this year, but his numbers alone have made Orioles owner Peter Angelos interested. Matsui won his third Japanese Central MVP award this season after hitting .334. In 10 seasons with the Giants, he hit 332 home runs.
Matsui has been playing in the Japanese All-Star series against a group of major-leaguers that includes San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds and Orioles pitcher Rodrigo Lopez. That series ends tomorrow.
Yesterday, Bonds defeated Matsui in a home run contest, 8-5.
Thrift, who landed Lopez last year through the recommendation of an agent, said he knows plenty about Matsui from his "baseball spies." Besides Lopez, the Orioles have trainer Richie Bancells working with that team of major-leaguers in Japan.
"We have thorough information on [Matsui], inside and out, regarding this young man as a player and a person," Thrift said. "He's a good hitter. He can hit for power. He's a good outfielder. He's a good baseball player. He could be a top producer here at Camden Yards because of the configurations."
With a short right-field porch, Camden Yards is seen as an ideal setting for a left-handed power hitter, and the Orioles plan to make that part of their pitch.
NOTE: The Orioles have been talking to the Oakland Athletics about a potential trade that would send Chris Singleton to Oakland. The A's, who lost Johnny Damon to free agency last offseason, are looking for a center fielder so they can move Terrence Long to another outfield position. Singleton is eligible for arbitration and could command a $2 million salary for next season. He became expendable when Gary Matthews blossomed into an everyday player after coming over from the New York Mets in an April trade.