HOUSTON (AP) -- Second baseman Kaz Matsui finalized a $16.5 million, three-year contract with the Houston Astros on Sunday, a little more than a month after helping the Colorado Rockies to their first World Series appearance.

The 32-year-old switch-hitter batted .288 with four homers and 37 RBIs, stole 32 bases and scored 84 runs -- his best totals in Major League Baseball. Houston swiped only 65 bases this year, the third-lowest in the National League.

General manager Ed Wade said Matsui will likely bat second, behind speedy center fielder Michael Bourn, acquired last month from Philadelphia.

"Kaz is an ideal fit for our club," Wade said. "Kaz runs extremely well. He steals bases, moves runners and takes the extra base. He plays the game the right way."

Matsui has a .272 average in four seasons with the New York Mets (2004-06) and Colorado (2006-07). He hit .304 with a home run in the playoffs, including his first career grand slam in the second game of the first-round series against the Phillies.

Matsui signed with the Mets in 2003 after nine seasons with the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. Matsui hit .309 with 150 homers, 569 RBIs and 306 stolen bases in Japan.

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