Mets getting a crack at Matsuzaka?

It's only on a blog ...

http://hotfoot.metsblog.com/blog/_archives/2006/12/11/2565193.html

... and they got it from the Sons of Sam Horn.

(13) The U.S. Commissioner shall have the authority to oversee the bidding procedures set forth in paragraphs (8) through (12) above to ensure that they not been undermined in any manner. Among other actions that he may deem appropriate and in the best interests of baseball, the U.S. Commissioner shall have the authority to revoke a U.S. Major League Club’s exclusive negotiation rights with respect to a Japanese Player (and, subject to the Japanese Club’s approval pursuant to paragraph (11) above, to award such rights to the next highest bidder, if any) and to declare null and void any contract between a Japanese Player and a U.S major League Club that the U.S. Commissioner deems was the result of conduct that was inconsistent with this Agreement or otherwise not in the best interests of professional baseball.

 

I think it's great Boras and the Sox were so lovey-dovey on JD Drew...and now, not so much, just a week later.

 

How can the dumbass Red Sox bid $51 mill for the rights to Matzusaka and then not want to pay him enough to sign him? Unless, of course, they never intended to do anything but keep him away from the Yankees, in which case the feeble commissioner better show some balls and come down hard on Theo & Co.

Lucchino's "Evil Empire" comment looks more stupid everyday.

 

And you leave no room to consider that Boras is being unreasonable in his demands? As if that has never happened?

 

But really, we all knew the Red Sox were just like the Yankees, only in different clothes.

 

I don't see how Boras can complain too much. $8 million annually for a guy who has never pitched a big league game is fair value, especially when bidding against nobody. How this can be considered bargaining in bad faith is beyond me. You don't get to break the bank until, you know, you actually do something.

 

I'm not about to defend Bor-ass, but seriously, if mediocrities like Ted Lilly and Vicente Padilla can get $10-11 mill per, he has to think the Red Sox would pay at least that to Matzusaka after bidding such a ridiculous amount to be sure they got rights to him.

As unreasonable as Bor-ass is, I think you could make a pretty good case that to bid $51 mill (when nobody else was above low 30s) and not sign the guy is an indication that the Red Sox' only purpose was to keep him away from the Yankees.

 

Because Gil Meche got five years and $55 million?

 

Thanks Oz. I knew there was another mediocrity I forgot at $11 mill per.

 

Then the Red Sox should have thought about that bid and budgeted better, knowing what Boras might demand. And maybe not throw $106 million at J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo.

And spnited, no problem. I'm with you on this one. The Red Sox are trying to have it both ways.

 

This'll get done. Too much at stake for both sides not to get it done.

Everyone will be smiling and spouting lines like "it's just business" later in the week.