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Tuesday, November 14, 2006 Wow...Just WOW!!Many of you know about this already, but I just feel the need to type this... The Boston Red Sox emerged Tuesday night as winners of the bidding for Daisuke Matsuzaka with a $51.1 million offer and have 30 days to sign the Japanese pitcher to a contract. Major League Baseball did not disclose the amount. However, FoxSports.com, the Associated Press, and Japans's Yomiuri Shimbun all have reported the $51.1 million figure. He better be one damn good pitcher! In other news about overpaid players...
posted by Joe Hamrahi at 10:06 PM |
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9 Comments:
I really can't believe that the Red Sox really intend to spend that kind of money on a pitcher. Is there anything to protect the Japanese club from Boston making a bid just to block the Yankees and then not signing the player?
I don't know if Orlando Hernandez is worth a 2 year contract right now. I know he was the Mets best starter in the second half, but c'mon...he tore a calf muscle running in the outfield and he has to be pushing 50, so I think its a risk. But with no Pedro, the Mets have to do something.
and the Yankees are the evil empire? (please Larry!). I hope this guy gets 2x the amount the wins Pavano's brought the Yanks. Good luck with the unknown! Irabu memories anyone?
There really isn't much anyone can do to prevent the Sox from making a bid to block a team. However, they would come under enormous pressure from the commissioner's office if they did so. Major League Baseball does not want to jeopardize its relationship with Japan. I'd be very surprised if Boston doesn't come to an agreement with Matsuzaka.
It is an obscene amount of cash which I assume will result in about $100 million once they agree on a contract.
However, this guy is a rock star in Japan right now. The attention Matsui and Ichiro currently get from the Japanese media will look like nothing compared to what this kid will bring to the Sox. I have to think some of that media attention in Japan will result in $$$ (rights to air Sox games in Japan, merchandise, etc.). So, part of it has to be an investment into the Japanese baseball market.
I'm not believing the theory that the Sox are just bidding high on this guy to prevent Yankees from having him this season. But, time will tell...
Pretty ridiculous. It will end up being a 17-19 million dollar per year deal when all is said and done If the Red Sox get him under contract. Even if he's as good as advertised that will probably be more than $1 million dollars per victory before his contract runs out. No wonder my Angels season tickets have gone up 50% over the last two years. It's not the owners money they are really throwing around.
I have written an article on this topic, but it's in proofing stages, so, and won't be ready for a couple days at least. :>
But I had these thoughts when someone else raised this topic in another blog:
I don't want to over-generalize my observations, but I've done business with Japanese companies before, and I suspect the following:
1. If Boston were just "playing games" with their bid, there would be a long memory (and lack of forgiveness) by all Japanese teams in the future. I think such a stunt would severely hinder their ability to recruit from that country for many years.
2. Much "business" gets done beforehand, and seemingly "behind closed doors". I know that with Boras as an intermediary, the whole cultural context changes, but I suspect that both the Red Sox and Seibu have a pretty clear grasp on what is coming. This includes what sort of salary demands Matsuzaka will have, and also on the distribution of various other revenues (as have been much-rumored). While nothing Boras does will surprise me much, I would be somewhat surprised if a deal isn't announced relatively soon.
3. The flip-side to the Red Sox negotiating in good faith is that Matsuzaka wouldn't have entered this process without giving some indication of what he expects, I am thinking. Imagine the reaction of the Seibu management if he "screwed" them by playing tough with the Red Sox... they have $51MM on the table now, and they want that money... else, why post him in the first place? And (again, I risk over-generalizing) I don't think that invoking the wrath of one's corporate employer in Japan is something someone would do lightly (not that it's a good idea here, but my sense is it's much worse there).
$51.1M just for the right to talk to Boras! This may be a block to prevent the Yankees, but i doubt it more and more as i think about it.
What the BoSox did was invest $51.1M to a Japanese Marketing Strategy. If this kid is for real (which he is) and can hold up over the course of MLB season (the real question), Red Sox jersey's will be flying out of stores across the island. With Hideki and Ichiro both approaching there mid 30's, Daisuke has a chance to be the biggest Japanese star 3-4 years from now.
Also, I have heard alot about Theo wanted to create Red Sox Sponsered Baseball camps in the Far East, and this is definitely a step in the right direction.
Ugh...most of the time, the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is great drama and good for baseball, but sometimes I just get sick of it....this is one of those moments.
Having said that, I have to think that Boston has bid in good faith. Whether or not they keep Matsuzaka once a contract is signed, I think one will be signed and Epstein will either have a really expensive #2 pitcher in the rotation, or a really expensive group of talent traded for. There's just too much at stake for the Red Sox not to bring the guy over at this point.
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