NewYork.Mets.com

By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com

Kazuo Matsui said that he hopes to bring another World Series championship to the Mets. (Marc S. Levine/NY Mets)

NEW YORK -- Kaz Matsui sat down to lunch Wednesday afternoon with Mets minority owner Saul Katz and immediately noticed his 1986 World Series ring.

The Japanese star had never seen a genuine World Series ring before and was intrigued. As Matsui, Katz and the rest of the New York brain trust enjoyed their meal, jokes were made about how the Mets' new shortstop was going to help his new teammates earn a little championship jewelry of their own.

George Rose, Matsui's interpreter, even joked that if you took the "T" off the ring, it spelled out Kaz. It all made for wonderful mid-winter banter on what proved to be a genuinely exciting day for New York. Matsui, enamored with the ring, wore it a short time later to the podium in the big ballroom at the New York Sheraton, proudly displaying the hardware to the hundreds of media members, international and domestic, who were on hand to cover his introduction as a Met.

"I'm going to do my best to bring another one [World Series championship] to this city for the New York Mets," Matsui said, who was welcomed to the podium by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

And with that, the latest new era in Mets history was ushered in. Matsui, 28, laughed and joked, showing a great deal of personality and poise, two characteristics management is hopeful he will display on the field for at least the next three seasons. The seven-time Japanese League All-Star and 1998 Pacific League Most Valuable player certainly has the credentials to back up the $20.1 million deal New York gave him.

"The signing of Kaz Matsui fits perfectly with our plan and is a huge first step towards improving our club," said general manager Jim Duquette, who he spoke to former Mets manager Bobby Valentine as late as Wednesday morning to get his opinion on Matsui. "With Matsui and Jose Reyes anchoring the middle of infield, we feel we'll have one of the best double-play combinations and most athletic top of the lineups in the game."

Matsui, who also had discussions with the Dodgers, Angels and Yankees, said he wanted to play for the Mets because they never changed their stance with him during the negotiations. He also loved the fact that they told him he could play shortstop and he loved the family atmosphere provided by the club's principal owner, Fred Wilpon. In fact, it was Wilpon's son Bruce, who lives in Japan with his wife, who helped out by befriending Matsui and his wife over the last few weeks.

"They [the Mets] were very consistent with that they told me," said Matsui, who said he would look for a house in the suburbs of New York to make the cultural transition easier on his wife and child. "That's why I felt this was the best place. I knew the Mets thought a lot of me and that they really wanted me. That had a lot to do with the decision."

New York has been interested in Matsui for some time. Isao O'Jimi, the club's Pacific Rim area scout, has been making a push to get Matsui for years while manager Art Howe was won over last fall after seeing him play in the series between the Major League club he managed and the Japanese All-Stars.

"I believed he could play well here for a long time," said O'Jimi, who was promoted to director of Pacific Rim operations as a result of his work on the Matsui signing. "Since 1997 I wanted him to sign with the Mets. I thought he might have even come here last year through the posting system but he waited until he was a free agent.

"He's a good athlete and he can adjust. It may take a little while, but he'll do well. [Yankee] Hideki [Matsui] did well."

Matsui hit .305 last season with 33 homers and 84 RBIs. No one, not even Matsui, is expecting those kinds of power numbers from him next season, especially in a pitcher's park like Shea Stadium. But he is expected to provide the Mets with a dynamic one-two punch at the top of the batting order with fellow switch-hitter Reyes, setting the table for Mike Piazza and Cliff Floyd.

There have been concerns about moving Reyes to second base to accommodate Matsui. But the youngster graciously accepted the position change for the betterment of the club. Duquette said there was a great deal of internal debate about making the move. But in the end, the chance to sign a player of Matsui's capability made the decision an easy one, especially after second baseman Luis Castillo turned down the Mets' offer and returned to the Marlins last week.

"I know what I hear and when I talk to people in front office and the scouts, you have to trust their opinion because they're good at evaluating talent," Tom Glavine said of Matsui. "And everything I heard has been good. There are questions about what he'll do offensively compared to what did in Japan and that's natural. There are always question marks when someone comes to Shea. It's not a hitter's paradise. So I don't know if anyone knows what to expect there.

"But his defense is spectacular and that's a huge upgrade assuming Jose is able to make the switch to second base as well as he's been making adjustments at short. It's going to be a dynamite middle of the infield and double play combination."

Matsui wore No. 7 in Japan but Reyes will keep that number with the Mets. Instead, Matsui will wear No. 25 because when added, they equal seven. He'll be in New York for another week, do some house hunting and try and take in some sights, saying he wanted to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero.

Kevin T. Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story is not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.