2003 – Kazuo Matsui, aĀ JapaneseĀ seven-time All-Star shortstop, agrees to a three-year $20.1-million deal with theĀ Mets. Twenty-eight-year-old ā€œLittleā€ Matsui hit .305 with 33 home runs while driving in 84 runs last season with theĀ Seibu Lions.

2003 – Kazuo Matsui, aĀ JapaneseĀ seven-time All-Star shortstop, agrees to a three-year $20.1-million deal with theĀ Mets. Twenty-eight-year-old ā€œLittleā€ Matsui hit .305 with 33 home runs while driving in 84 runs last season with theĀ Seibu Lions.