I hear it's going to be in his driveway, and he's going to has matsuzaka work out for the Japanese press
Boras basically said that he is not listening to anything that is not a 6 year deal worth 100 million which equals 16.66 million a year. The Red Sox are no going to hold a press conference of their own. My thinking is it's more in the best intrest for Boras to get this done than it is for Boston as the Red Sox don't lose anything if they don't sign him.
This is actually pretty funny posturing if it's true. This sort of statement completely takes the Sox off the hook - there is no team in baseball that would remotely consider that deal, so the Sox get to save the $51.1M and still not have Matsuzaka pitching anywhere else (including the Bronx), without any hint of bad faith on their part. Considering how much money this will cost the Seibu Lions if it falls through (obviously the posting fee next year would be far lower, since teams would know how unreasonable Boras is), how do you think Matsuzaka will be treated when he goes back to Japan? If this is real, and not just a smokescreen, Matsuzaka is an idiot if he doesn't can Boras immediately and get himself an agent who can make a reasonable deal in 2 days.
I think this has major ramifications as far as the way the posting will be handled in the future. Matsuzaka has stated he is a Yankee fan so Boras comes in with a ridiculous offer and BAM next year Dice signs with the Yankees as a FA. This needs to be investigated on both ends. Poor Seibu, they needed the money and because of both parties handling Dice they aren't getting anything.
Maybe so, but meanwhile he loses ~$6M this year, and there's no guarantee that he's actually any good and will stay healthy. And if he screws Seibu over this way, I wouldn't be surprised if he pitched 350 innings next year! There seems to be conflicting information about this, but I have read in more than one place that he wouldn't actually be a free agent next year, but only the year after.
Blame Boras all you want, but it's equally Theo Epstein's fault (for being totally unable to negotiate with Boras and get him to meet him somewhere in between, around $10 million) and Matsuzaka's fault for going along with Boras' demands and making his desire to pitch for the Yankees painfully clear.
The Japanese apparently think this will get done... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove06/columns/story?id=2693833
Wow. $16M+/year? Boston would be insane for even considering that. What a total mess this turned into. Who knows what party is most to blame, but no matter what, this is just ridiculous. Maybe the Yanks made a backdoor deal with Boras, or Matsuzaka told him he wants to only pitch for the Bombers. Maybe Boras' relationship with Boston was put into play to cover Boston pretending to actually have interest to block the Yankees. Maybe Boston really wanted him, but Boras is just insane. It could be any number of reasons, so I guess this will never get sorted out. I don't know how the bidding process could be "improved" though. It's a sealed bidding process, and while Boston's number was a bit over the top, it's the whole reason why the process is what it is. If they want to dump $51M into a negotiation, who has a right to tell them they're wrong? It's pretty funny. A Cuban defects and can negotiate with anyone at will. A Japanese player continues to be property of his team until he is purchased away. What a total joke.
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2006/12/sox_to_make_new.html In a conference call Monday night, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said the he's prepared to make a "record" offer to Daisuke Matsuzaka on Tuesday. By record, it's taken to mean that it'll be the largest offer ever made to a player with no major league experience. Epstein and owner John Henry are among the members of the Red Sox to make the trip to Los Angeles in an attempt to get Matsuzaka signed before Thursday's deadline. "I think it's also fair to say we're on Scott Boras's doorstep because he hasn't negotiated with us so far," Henry said. "We're taking the fight directly to him to try to have a negotiation here."
ColdPizza is reporting Matsuzaka, his agent, and the Redsox Brass are enroute to boston from the west coast.
NESN reports that a preliminary contract has been reached, and Matsuzaka, Boras, and the Red Sox officials are flying back to Boston together. Looks like you guys were right, those Red Sox scum bid just to block the Yankees.
At first I was quick to blame the Sox but as more information came out I realized it was Boras and not the Sox. He had refused to even meet wih Boston until yesterday. Doesn't sound like a guy who is looking out for his clients best intrest. He wanted to change the posting procedure and he put his own personal agenda ahead of that of Matsuzaka. If this doesn't get done blame Boras , yeah Boston came with a low offer but Boras had refused to even talk with the Sox until yesterday.
your right, i heard Mike and Mike talking about it with someone. If hes not signed this year than he cant be approached again until 08. And theres even rumors that if this deal doesnt go through that Seibu will demote him to the minors for a year since they'll miss out on 51.1 million. I doubt that though cuz if this guy is the real deal theyd want him playing for them. But anything is possible especially when someone is costing you 51.1 million. Point in case the Red Sox lowballed him to keep him away from everyone. very low class, the whole posting system needs to be re-vamped.
And just think the Sox could also add Clemens w or w/o Mats.:beer: Now that's an Evil Empire.:rofl: http://www.soxaholix.com/tp/2006/12/doctor_doctor_g.html :rofl:
This, if true, is AMAZING... http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/12/13/matsuzaka.signs/index.html 6 years, $52 million?!?!?!?! Even with the escalator clauses, 6/60 is incredible.
