Red Sox Bid 51.1 Million

The Boston Red Sox bid 51.1 million for the rights to negotiate for 30 days to sign Japan pitcher Matsuzaka.The Seibu Lions of Japans Pacific League accepted the Red Sox bid.The Red Sox blew the competition away in the bidding for Matsuzaka.

 

holy christ

 

Insanity. Supposedly Boras, his agent, is asking for 15 mill a year and a 3 year contract so he can start the circus over again when the pitcher is 29 yo. Baseball needs a salary cap to save these idiotic owners from themselves.

 

read somewhere (globe or herald) that the sox bid was almost $20 million more than the next highest bidder.

 

Well that is just stupid. Quite a lot of money left on the table if you ask me.

 

Bids are sealed, so you can't know how much it will take. In fact, there is a good possibility that the Red Sox won't have to pay a dime since they owe nothing if they don't come to terms with Matsuzaka within 30 days. That way they keep him away from the Yankees without paying a ton of money.

 

But if they do come to terms.....

You would think an organization that big would have some 'feeling' for the market. I could see being over by $1 million but $20? That is just stupid.

 

the sox may try to lowball him, theorizing they can recoup some of that bid money through savings on the contract. problem there is, if they think this guy's gonna be the real deal, they'd want to lock him up for at least four years. they lowball and Boras will insist on a 3-yeare deal so he can hit the FA market while still in his 20s. It would be nice if the sox could get a 5-year deal for $60-65 mill. lots of major league scouts and execs say he's better than anything of the free agent pitchers out there and I'm guess someone like zito will get at least that much. Of course, Collin may come along and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that this guy is no better that Hideki Irabu.

 

The Sox have a delicate line to walk here. They have 30 days to hammer out a deal with him. They can't do it they get the 51 mil back. Maybe Steinbrenner can give the team a freighter ship to have the pitcher hold out 30 days and then sign with the Yanks

 

Nope, he's the real deal, although you can never assume that someone who has never played in the majors will suddenly dominate it, but I was narrowly beat out for Matsuzaka in the reserve round of last year's fantasy draft, so he's someone I've known about. He's not worth $20+ million a season, but no one who isn't a sure-fire Hall of Famer is. Fyi, Akinori Iwamura is an underrated 3rd baseman that is coming over next season as well.


PP:
If Matzusaka doesn't sign with the Red Sox then he goes back to Seibu for another year and becomes a free agent after next season.