Matsui to sign a Yankees contract for farewell

NEW YORK — Hideki Matsui intends to sign a one-day minor league contract with the Yankees on July 28, and again announce his retirement.

The Yankees plan to honor the 2009 World Series Most Valuable Player during a pregame ceremony that day and will give the first 18,000 fans Hideki Matsui bobblehead souvenirs.

Matsui wore No. 55, and July 28 is the Yankees' originally scheduled 55th home game. Matsui announced his retirement in December after 10 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League and 10 in the major leagues. He played for the Yankees from 2003-09, driving in six runs in the 2009 World Series finale, then spent one season each with the Los Angeles Angels, Oakland and Tampa Bay.

"Even through his knee injuries, he found a way to always get big hits for the New York Yankees," manager Joe Girardi said. "You will hear every player to a man say what a great teammate he was