On this day in 2010, the A's signed 36-year-old Hideki Matsui to a one-year, $4.25 million contract.
Matsui had already enjoyed a brilliant career, both in Japan and Major League Baseball. In seven seasons with the Yankees, Matsui slashed .292/.370/.482 with 140 home runs and 597 RBI, appearing in two All-Star Games and earning World Series MVP honors in 2009.
In 2010 with the Angels, Matsui's production slipped a little bit, but he still notched 21 homers and 84 RBI with a .274/.361/.459 slash line. Unfortunately for the A's, his numbers continued to drop in his one season in Oakland.