Mets getting a crack at Matsuzaka?

Not the proper argument at all. The only way that would work is if there is only one doll on the shelf and you are determined to a) prevent the other child from obtaining that doll (your daughter and her were in a fight) and b) by owning that doll you open yourself to a new market to make more money.

If the option of b does not exist, then you would only care about driving up the price and if the other child ended up with the doll you would be able to argue that you couldn't afford to go that high.

This was a bidding war in the beginning. Who the hell was even close to that $51 million? The Red Sox viewed it as a means to enter the Japanese market. They saw how Ichiro produced revenue for Seatle and Matsui produced revenue for the Yankees and they wanted a piece.

Without that motive, they don't reach $51 million. They only offer 25 or 30.

 

The Red Sox bid that much during the posting period because a) D-Mat is considered by their scouts to one of the top handful of pitchers in the world and b) he would provide huge value in bringing the Red Sox brand o Japan.

D-Mat's value to the Red Sox is higher than a hypothetical pitcher exactly his equivalent from Davenport, Iowa, because of the marketing potential involved.

Also, headbutt, clubs have no reserve rights over players who are signed as international free agents.

 

Thanks for contributing, Mr. Boras. The point is the price tag is for the rights, nothing more. Ulterior motives don't mean squat.

And there are plenty of motives. Maybe they wanted to make sure they got him no matter what. Maybe the just wanted to "beat" the New York teams. Actually, it is probably a combination of motives, just like every other move a baseball team makes.

 

That is all fine and dandy, but you can't argue that the posting price is part of his value and therefore offer a low offer and expect the guy to take it.

If the Sawx view the posting price as part of the player's salary, why didn't they just offer $100-million and then offer to pay the guy $1-million per?

 

So, if they wanted to count $30 million of the bid against Matsuzaka's salary, it would be ok? That would be more in line with what other teams were bidding, right? (as I wait to see how you twist this argument around).

And are the Cubs any less stupid for overpaying Lilly, or the Royals for overpaying Meche? You want the Red Sox to suffer for their own stupidity (like they will with Drew), fine, but they should pay for everybody else's stupidity, too?

And notice that those are two contracts that were not in place when the Red Sox bid $51 million for Matsuzaka's rights. There were indications that the prices would be high this offseason, but now you are expecting them to know how high before it happened?

Forget the posting bid, no way this guy should get $100 million over five years before ever throwing a pitch in a major league game. I'm not sure he even gets that if he was a total free agent,. Some people here seem to forget he is not a free agent.

I personally don't think the bid should count against Matsuzaka's salary, but I also don't think the Red Sox should pay him as if he were a free agent when he isn't one.

 

Nobody, not even Boras, believes D-Mat will be able to negotiate a contract for his fair market value because he doesn't have that leverage. Everyone understands that contract will represent less than his market value. What people are saying, however, is that if you want to benchmark his market value it would be in line with that of a 26-year-old front-of-the-rotation starter -- an annual average in the low to middle teens right now.

And D-Mat would easily command such a contract if he were a free agent. In fact, because of the added marketing value he brings to his club that an American or Dominican or Venezeulan couldn't, D-Mat would command even more than a pitcher of the equivalent age and skill level.

 

No matter the posting price, the Red Sox cannot hold that as part of D-Mats price.

Now, I'm not stating that the Red Sox should be bidding against themselves, but they should be offering at least a reasonable offer of a contract. Andy Pettitte will receive $16 million for one year. Is D-Mats value half of his? According the Red Sox, it isn't. That is why they bid $51 million to sit down at the table.

As such, they should be offering something that would be within reason. And if they aren't willing to pay the larger salary, then should at least withdraw the number of years at which they want him on the team.

 

Sounds like there might be a deal struck with the Sawx.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/12/13/bc.bba.redsox.matsuzaka.ap/index.html

 

Gordon Edes is reporting that Boras and Matsuzak are on the plane with Theo and Lucchino, bound for Boston.
Deal not final yet but probably will get done by the end of the night (or flight?)

Last report, however, still $3 mill per year apart on a 5 or 6 year deal.

 

For the Sox' sake, he better not be a skinnier version of Hideki Irabu.

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka has reached a six-year, $52 million deal with the Red Sox, SI.com's Jon Heyman has learned.