Sources: Red Sox bid high of $42M for Matsuzaka

**min0 lee** · 11-14-2006, 05:58 PM

The Red Sox bid $42 million for the right to negotiate with prized Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, sources told ESPN's Peter Gammons. Boston's bid far exceeded any other team's offer.

Larry Goren/Icon SMI
Daisuke Matsuzaka was worth $42 million to the Red Sox -- just for the rights to negotiate a contract with him.

Matsuzaka will learn Tuesday whether the Seibu Lions have accepted a bid for him by a major league team.

Major League Baseball and the Japanese commissioner's office will make simultaneous announcements at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday (10 a.m. Tokyo time Wednesday), MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said Monday at the big league general managers' meetings.

The amount of the highest bid was forwarded by the major league commissioner's office to the Japanese commissioner's office last Wednesday, and the Lions have until Tuesday to accept. Only if the offer is accepted will the identity of the winning team be revealed.

Matsuzaka, a right-hander who pitched for Japan's World Baseball Classic champions, is considered among the top prospects available this offseason.

**goandykid** · 11-14-2006, 05:59 PM

Good.

**min0 lee** · 11-14-2006, 06:01 PM

It's war!

**min0 lee** · 11-14-2006, 06:03 PM

If the Lions accept the top bid, the winning bidder has 30 days to reach an agreement with Matsuzaka. If a deal cannot be reached, he would return to the Lions for the 2007 Japanese baseball season and the bid will not be paid.

Talent evaluators who have seen Matsuzaka say he's a top of the rotation-quality pitcher who would improve the Red Sox staff.

• If Boston signs him it would effectively plant a Red Sox flag in the growing Far East market.

• By merely winning the bidding the Red Sox would block the Yankees from acquiring Matsuzaka. By signing him, they would gain the same kind of advantage the Yankees gained when they signed Johnny Damon away from Boston.
Some have speculated that the Boston bid is to block the Yankees, but sources told Gammons that is absolutety false. Boston badly wants the pitcher, the marketing revenues from the Japanese market and an entrance in the door of the future of Asian baseball.

**goandykid** · 11-14-2006, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

It's war!

Min0, I live in DC, it's my job to hate any NY, Philly, or Dallas team.

giants, flyers, phillies, eagles, yankees, stars, cowboys, rangers, islanders, etc

Plus the limited time I was in Boston recently everyone was nice to me, and the Irish population really pleased me. I'm not racist, dont judge me :P. When I was in NYC, everyoen seemed like theyd shoot me if I asked for directions.

If I could live in any other major US city besides DC, it would be Boston. We should amke a polled thread like that.

**Triple Threat** · 11-14-2006, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Daisuke Matsuzaka was worth $42 million to the Red Sox -- just for the rights to negotiate a contract with him.

$51 million according to yahoo sports.

**min0 lee** · 11-14-2006, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by goandykid

Min0, I live in DC, it's my job to hate any NY, Philly, or Dallas team.

giants, flyers, phillies, eagles, yankees, stars, cowboys, rangers, islanders, etc

Plus the limited time I was in Boston recently everyone was nice to me, and the Irish population really pleased me. I'm not racist, dont judge me :P. When I was in NYC, everyoen seemed like theyd shoot me if I asked for directions.

If I could live in any other major US city besides DC, it would be Boston. We should amke a polled thread like that.

It's a tough town, you have to understand that around here in NYC most of us are leery of strangers.
I would bet though that you may have approached visitor and not a native.

Most of the locals are down to earth.

**goandykid** · 11-14-2006, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

It's a tough town, you have to understand that around here in NYC most of us are leery of strangers.
I would bet though that you may have approached visitor and not a native.

Most of the locals are down to earth.

Oh I'm sure, its ahrd for 7(?) million people to ALL be mean. Boston jsut fit my idea of a place I'd like to live very well. Chicago would too if it was an east coast city and not in the middle of Illinois.

**Dale Mabry** · 11-14-2006, 09:41 PM

So, they spend however many million, and that is just for the right to bid, it has nothing to do with his contract if they decide to sign him? Holy shit.

**min0 lee** · 11-15-2006, 05:25 AM

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

So, they spend however many million, and that is just for the right to bid, it has nothing to do with his contract if they decide to sign him? Holy shit.

Only a foolish team like the Yankees would spend that kind of money.
Oh snap!
Boston signs him!

**I Are Baboon** · 11-15-2006, 05:53 AM

Balls!

The Sox aren't going to commit $51 million only to not reach an agreement with him. He'll sign.

I don't know much about him, other than what the talk radio drones are saying. Some people say he can be a #1 starter in MLB, and others say to just wait and see. I'm feeling good about this. A Schilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Papelbon, Wakefield rotation looks pretty fuckin' good.

**min0 lee** · 11-15-2006, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by I Are Baboon

Balls!

The Sox aren't going to commit $51 million only to not reach an agreement with him. He'll sign.

I don't know much about him, other than what the talk radio drones are saying. Some people say he can be a #1 starter in MLB, and others say to just wait and see. I'm feeling good about this. A Schilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Papelbon, Wakefield rotation looks pretty fuckin' good.

That's a scary rotation, I know Josh will be better next year, Wakefield has a rubber arm, if Shilling stays healthy we know what he can do. I have to say I disagree with Papelbon becoming a starter. He could be a real good reliever if he stays in there.

**I Are Baboon** · 11-15-2006, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I have to say I disagree with Papelbon becoming a starter. He could be a real good reliever if he stays in there.

I'd rather see him start. He could be a top of the rotation starter, and those are much harder to find than a suitable closer. Besides, the Sox have Craig Hansen waiting in the wings to assume the closer role...that is, if he lives up to expecations (last year he was shaky at best).

**Triple Threat** · 11-15-2006, 06:20 AM

If that rotation lives up to their hype, they won't need a closer.

**min0 lee** · 11-15-2006, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by Triple Threat

If that rotation lives up to their hype, they won't need a closer.

Your right.....

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