OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 13 (UPI) -- The Oakland Athletics have reached an agreement to add veteran Hideki Matsui as a designated hitter, multiple media sources reported Monday.
The one-year deal, expected to be worth about $6 million, is pending a physical for the 36-year-old Matsui, the Oakland Tribune said.
Matsui has posted a career .290 average with 161 homers over eight major league seasons -- seven with the New York Yankees and last year with the Los Angeles Angels.
The Japanese star was 28 when he joined New York.
Matsui should represent a significant improvement at DH for the light-hitting A's, coming off a 2010 season that saw him connect for 21 homers and 84 RBI for the Angels.
Oakland hit only 109 homers last season, third-worst in the majors, and third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff led the squad with 16 round-trippers and 71 RBI.
