The Hot Stove League is gathering heat and the White Sox are kicking the tires on Hideki Matsui. If that sounds familiar to you, then you recall the winter of 2009 when Matsui, fresh off winning the World Series MVP, caught the eye of the White Sox before signing with the Angels for $6 million. Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune was able to confirm the team's interest, which both makes sense and makes you scratch your head.
It makes sense because the White Sox need a lefty bat and Kenny Williams has long been a fan of veteran hitters who seem to be on the downside of their careers. Sometimes that fetish pays off -- Jim Thome -- and sometimes it doesn't -- Ken Griffey, Manny Ramirez -- but nothing shakes Williams of his love for players with a similar resume as Matsui's.
The head-scratching part is that the White Sox eventually backed off on Matsui because they wanted a player who could do more than simply hold down the designated hitter spot. While Matsui did wind up playing 18 games in the outfield for the Angels, he is a much better fit as a designated hitter for the health of his body and your team's defense.
With Carlos Quentin, Juan Pierre and Alex Rios already in the fold, perhaps that versatility is less of an issue this time around. Then again, Pierre was terrible last year so it might be an even bigger factor. Williams and Ozzie Guillen are never the easiest guys to read around the poker table, so it is probably best just to take their interest in Matsui at face value. Either way, Matsui's 2010 season shows that he can still help a team with his bat. His power suffered a bit with the move away from Yankee Stadium, but his OPS+ of 124 was his best since 2006 and his second half was outstanding. That bodes well for him going forward, be it in Chicago or somewhere else.
Suspected PayPal Hackers Seek Deal To Stay Out Of Prison
TV SoundOff: Sunday Talking Heads
Issa Comes To White House Rescue
What Went Wrong? Gallup Shares New Details
Radio Host Makes Shocking Claim About Shooting Hillary Clinton
Report: Iran Executes Men Convicted Of Spying For U.S., Israel
College Student Accidentally Killed During 'Crime Of Opportunity'
Republican Warns Of Modern-Day Hitler Invasion
Gunmen Kill Prominent Female Politician In Pakistan
Pope: 'If Banks Fail It is A Tragedy, If People Die Of Hunger It's Nothing'
Did Broken Rail Cause Commuter Train Crash?
WATCH: Oxbow Dominates Preakness, Dashes Triple Crown Hopes
LA Doctor Gets 14 Years For This Horrible Promise
How Kidnapping Suspect Passes Time Behind Bars
Up To 60 Injured After Car Drives Into Virginia Parade
Colbert At U.Va.: You Owe The Previous Generation Nothing
Bill Maher Spoofs Tea Party Tax Forms
Targets In IRS Scandal Make Little Sense
Taxed More Than Their Income?
New Step Taken In Ricin Letters Case
New York Man Killed In Alleged Anti-Gay Hate Crime
These American Companies Refused To Sign The Bangladesh Safety Accord
Is Climate Change Increasing Tornado Intensity?
Jindal Makes Bold Claim Over Tea Party Targeting Scandal
North Korea Tests Missiles
VITO TO RESIGN MONDAY
Michael Kinsley Feels Your Pain, Middle Class, But Pain Makes You Beautiful
Al Qaeda Militants Killed In Drone Strike In Yemen
Obama Appears Unscathed By Unfolding Scandals
French President Signs Gay Marriage Into Law
Twitter Will Damn Your Soul, Religious Cleric Says
