OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Athletics have landed their new designated hitter.
The A's and free agent slugger Hideki Matsui finalized a $4.25 million, one-year contract Tuesday after he passed a physical. The sides had agreed to terms during the weekend. Matsui can earn an additional $100,000 in bonuses.
Oakland formally introduced Matsui on Tuesday afternoon in a news conference attended by more than 100 media members -- mostly Japanese -- and featuring 17 television cameras. Matsui provides a reliable bat in the middle of the order that general manager Billy Beane was seeking this offseason.
The 36-year-old Matsui batted .274 with 21 home runs and 84 RBIs last season with the Los Angeles Angels, the Athletics' AL West rival. He spent his first seven major league seasons with the New York Yankees and was MVP of the 2009 World Series.
Updated 12/14/10
