Matsui Not Headed to Dodgers

The best player in Japan, Yomiuri Giant star center fielder Hideki Matsui, appears headed for the U.S. next season, but don’t get your hopes up, Dodger fans.

Matsui, who declared himself a free agent Thursday, is expected to sign with the New York Yankees, and the Dodgers, despite their heavy presence, influence and success in the Pacific Rim, aren’t expected to bid on the 28-year-old slugger.

“We’ve followed Matsui for more than two years now because of his pending free agency, and all our scouts believe he’s a talented player who will have success in the major leagues,” Dodger General Manager Dan Evans said.

“But we believe he’s a corner outfielder, and with [left fielder] Brian Jordan and [right fielder] Shawn Green under contract, we don’t anticipate pursuing [Matsui]. At this time, he doesn’t fulfill one of our needs for 2003.”

Matsui batted .334 with 50 home runs and 107 runs batted in to lead the Giants to the Japan Series championship. He came up short in his bid for the Triple Crown, finishing second in the Central League in batting and first in homers and RBIs.

Though baseballs are known to carry well in the Tokyo Dome, where Yomiuri plays its home games, most scouts believe Matsui, who is nicknamed “Godzilla” and has 332 homers and 889 RBIs in his 10-year career, has legitimate big league power and will be an impact player in the major leagues.

Matsui, who throws right-handed and bats left-handed, is expected to command a multiyear contract in the $8-million-a-year range, a price the Yankees seem willing to pay, but one the Dodgers, with some $95 million already committed to 12 players for 2003, can’t afford. Teams cannot discuss financial terms with Matsui until Nov. 12.

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Among the players the Dodgers plan to target early in the free-agent period is veteran reliever Mike Remlinger, a 36-year-old left-hander who went 7-3 with a 1.99 earned-run average in 73 games for the Atlanta Braves last season.

Remlinger, who also can spot start, struck out 69 and walked 28 in 68 innings last season, making $2 million in the final year of a three-year, $5-million contract. Adding Remlinger wouldn’t preclude the Dodgers from re-signing 45-year-old reliever Jesse Orosco, who is more of a left-handed specialist.

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The Dodgers have hired Rene Francisco, 34, from the Braves to become their director of international scouting, replacing Jeff Schugel, who will remain as a special assistant to the general manager and will focus on major league scouting.

Francisco spent 10 years with the Braves, most recently working as their Latin American coordinator, and was the scout who signed Dodger pitcher Odalis Perez and Atlanta shortstop Rafael Furcal. The Dodgers did not retain major league scout Claude Osteen, the former Dodger pitching coach.

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The Dodgers are close to an agreement with the Kintetsu Buffaloes to send pitcher Kevin Beirne, who went 2-0 with a 3.41 ERA in 12 big league appearances last season, to Japan for $500,000. Beirne is considered a longshot to make the Dodgers next spring.... Derrick Hall, the Dodgers’ senior vice president of communications, was inducted into Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication Alumni Hall of Fame.

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Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sabean agreed in principle to a multiyear contract to remain with the San Francisco Giants.... The Chicago Cubs declined their $8.5-million option on Fred McGriff, making the first baseman eligible for free agency.... The St. Louis Cardinals declined a $6-million option on Andy Benes’ contract, and the right-hander filed for free agency. Also filing for free agency were Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas and Angel reserve Alex Ochoa.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.