Japanese Matsui joins Angels

Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui, the World Series Most Valuable Player for the New York Yankees, signed a one-year contract worth 6.5 million dollars with the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. The deal sends the 35-year-old free agent designated hitter to the AL West division champions whom the Yankees defeated in the first round of the playoffs on their way to a record 27th Major League Baseball crown.
Matsui batted .274, belted 28 home runs and drove in 90 runs for the Yankees last season, when he made 13 million dollars, then went 8-for-13 with three homers and eight runs batted in during the championship series. The Japanese star matched a World Series record by bringing in six runs in the decisive sixth game as the Yankees defeated defending champion Philadelphia four games to two in the best-of-seven final.