HIDEKI MATSUI RUMORS

In this edition of Rays Roundup: Hideki Matsui homers after getting royal treatment from his new teammates, James Shields suffers a rare rocky home outing, Kyle Farnsworth is throwing off a mound and Brandon Guyer is due to have season-ending surgery for a torn labrum. All of that and more inside.

The Tampa Bay Rays welcomed outfielder Hideki Matsui to the team Tuesday afternoon in their own unique way -- with strobe lights, a disco ball, loud music, slaps on the back and shoulders. Then, his new teammates let Matsui light the Captain Morgan sign that hangs on the wall in a corner of the clubhouse. This is the typical scene after a home win, with the player of the game lighting...

ST. PETERSBURG After a month in the making, Matsui Mania descended upon Tropicana Field with one Godzilla-worthy wallop. Veteran slugger Hideki Matsui may have taken his time moving up the ranks of the Tampa Bay Rays' minor leagues, accompanied each step of the way by a throng of some 50 Japanese media members. But he wasted absolutely no time Tuesday night endearing himself...

The Tampa Bay Rays have purchased the contract of designated hitter Hideki Matsui from Triple-A Durham. The former-New York Yankees outfielder and DH— who went by the nickname Godzilla— was a fan favorite for six years in the Bronx before being released in 2010. His quiet demeanor and consistent play were rewarded by two MLB All-Star selections and a World Series title in 2009—...

The Tampa Bay Rays made it official after weeks of speculation that Hideki Matsui is now a Ray. The 38 year old Matsui was called up from Triple A Durham after a 2-1 loss to the White Sox in Chicago with the Rays managing only 3 hits.   Riddled with injuries it was only short period of time before the Rays had to do something. The current roster looks nothing like we expected leading...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Rays have purchased the contract of designated hitter Hideki Matsui from Triple-A Durham. The team announced the move before Tuesday night's game against the Chicago White Sox. Matsui, who turns 38 on June 12, played 13 games with Durham after signing a minor league contract with Tampa Bay on April 30. He has played nine seasons in...

Godzilla’s back, and there’s gonna be trouble. Hideki Matsui, after a somewhat* underwhelming display in Triple-A, will join the Tampa Bay Rays tonight as they take on the Chicago White Sox at home. Some might suspect the move has to do with Monday afternoon’s outing against the White Sox in which Chris Sale struck out 15 Rays hitters — against a lineup featuring...

The Tampa Bay Rays decided the time was right, and they plan to add veteran outfielder/designated hitter Hideki Matsui to their roster Tuesday. Matsui, who turns 38 next month, signed a minor league deal with the Rays on April 30 and has been playing at Class AAA Durham, and without much success, hitting .170 with no homers and four RBI in 13 games. However, two factors contributed...

ST. PETERSBURG Inside a jammed auxiliary clubhouse, some 50 Japanese media members and a large local press contingent gathered Tuesday morning for the official introduction of the highest-profile minor leaguer in Tampa Bay Rays history. Hello, Hideki Matsui. The iconic Japanese slugger and longtime fixture for the New York Yankees took his seat on a platform beside a translator...

TAMPA BAY- The Rays just brought age and wisdom to their lineup with the announcement that they have inked Hideki Matsui to a minor league contract. Please click the link below to read the rest of this article and watch a touching video that documents Matsui's struggle.