The A's and free agent Hideki Matsui neared completion of a one-year contract on Sunday, a source told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Matsui, a 36-year-old left-handed hitter, would be expected to serve as the club's designated hitter. A's general manager Billy Beane met with Matsui's agent, Arn Tellem, during last week's Winter Meetings in Florida, but no decision was made at that time. The deal developed over the weekend and could be finalized as early as Monday with a news conference to follow on Tuesday, the Chronicle said.
The A's have neither confirmed nor commented on the report.
Tellem declined to speak about Matsui's contract desires at the Meetings, but he said that his client preferred to sign with the club that offered him the most playing time while giving him a chance to win.
"I think he wants to play on a regular basis and contribute to a team, and be on a team with a chance to be competitive in the race and looking for the support of a positive environment," Tellem said on Dec. 6. "I believe we'll find one of those."
Oakland seemingly fits that mold, as the club believes it boasts the pitching staff and -- hopefully by offseason's end -- just enough added elements necessary to fight for a postseason berth.
Matsui, who made $6 million this past year, finished the 2010 campaign with a .274 average and .820 OPS to go along with 21 homers and 84 RBIs. The latter numbers would represent an upgrade for Oakland, as Kevin Kouzmanoff and Kurt Suzuki led the A's last season with 71 RBIs. Kouzmanoff also led the team in homers with 16.
Matsui spent last season as the Angels' designated hitter, his first season on the West Coast after seven years with the Yankees. He has 161 home runs and a .290 average in his career. He was the Most Valuable Player of the 2009 World Series, won by New York over Philadelphia.
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