Mets getting a crack at Matsuzaka?

The latest from Bor-ass ... he wants $100 million!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/baseball/4395274.html

 

Well yeah, that's absurd ... but he has pitched in the league.

 

So let's not pay big money to draft picks anymore, because they haven't been in the league.

 

BIG difference between what the no. 1 pick gets and what Boras is asking for Matsuzaka.

 

Yeah, because Matsuzaka has more established credentials in the Japanese League than some 18-year-old high school kid has.

 

Thanks for making my argument for me. Luke Hochevar signed a 4-year deal worth just more than $5 million last year ... yet the deal worth $8 million annually for the Japanese kid is inadequate? It's ridiculous. I agree, Matsuzaka is worth more than Hochevar ... but $15 million per? No way. Schilling makes $13 million. Beckett less than $5 million. Barry Zito $7.9 million. You do not get to come in and make the same dough as established superstars even if the Royals and Rangers are tossing around cash like morons. It's a respectable offer and Boras is tilting at windmills. The Commish will not get in the middle.

 

Sorry, but the purchase price of $51 million does not play a role in this. Matsuzaka does not receive a dime of that. Many people seem to look at this as something new when in reality this type of deal goes on multiple times a year in soccer. You pay the price for the player and then you obtain his rights. At that point you can negotiate a contract to pay that player.

Based on Matsuzaka's previous work in Japan he is more established than Gil Meche and Ted Lilly. Thus, their current contract is more relevant than the prior contracts of Schilling, Beckett and Zito. If Matsuzaka were able to go to arbitration it is possible that he would land a deal at least in that vicinity. As such, offering $8 million is low-balling.

 

And, Zito going to get $15-17 mill on themarket in the next few weeks.

Even if the Red Sox want to say OK, we'll spend 100 mill but the $51 mill has to figure in it, they can probably get this done for 4 years, $50 mill guaranteed plus options, incentives, etc.

The parties will meet today in Calif.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-redsox-matsuzaka&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

Actually, Matsuzaka does get value out of the $51 million. The Red Sox are in essence buying him his freedom from the Japanese league.

And it is not fair to compare this to what Lilly and Meche got or what Zito might get. Those guys were on the open market with every team in baseball free to make an offer. The Red Sox paid for exclusive rights, and with that comes an advantage in the negotiations.

If you think that is unfair to Matsuzaka, then complain about the posting system, not what the Red Sox do within the rules of said system.

Yes, this guy was a great pitcher in Japan and in international competition. Yes, the scouts love him. But there are question marks. He still hasn't pitched in the majors and by all accounts his arm has been overused from a very young age.

And spnited, in fairness you do have a horse in this rate. You are a Mets fan, correct? And the big bid by the Red Sox didn't keep Matsuzaka from the Yankees, it kept him from the Mets.

 

As a Sox fan, I'm glad that it looks like they won't pay up on the transfer fee or the contract.

This guy has not faced major league pitching on a consistent basis, and to invest $100 million total on him is stupid to the Nth degree.

If it's found that Epstein and Lucchino manipulated the system to prevent the Yankees from getting them, come down hard. Take away their first-round draft pick next year and issue a nice-sized fine.

 

There is no "freedom" if he doesn't get to choose his team. There is no value to him in the $51 million. If he waits one or two years (I cannot remember when his contract expires) he will receive more on the open market.

Yes, the posting system is unfair. However, the Red Sox cannot use it as a means by which to short change someone. The idea was that they would negotiate in good faith. Offering the guy 75% of what Ted Lilly makes is not good faith negotiation.