$51 million? For an unproven commodity?

[Almost_Famous]

Hmmm.

kind of makes you wonder ... did the Red Sox overbid simply to block the Yanks from getting him ... or are the Red Sox willing to pay top dollar for this guy?

A rotation of Pap, Beckett, Schilling, and Matsuzaka would be ... pretty impressive.

$51 million? To talk to somebody?

 

[beefncheddar]

I still think it would be interesting to see the Sox offer him a 4-year deal for something like $12 million to $18 million. Then dare Boras to turn it down and send him back to Japan ... where the team won't want him because it would lose the $51.1M the Sox posted.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

The Yankee fan in me hopes this guy fizzles next season.

 

[Angola!]

The Yankee fan in me hopes this guy fizzles next season.

It will be interesting to see. I am just waiting for him to do really good at the beginning of the season because no one has seem him yet and then watch him turn into Josh Beckett and his 5.00 ERA.
ESPN might have a meltdown promoting this guy if he wins his first couple of starts.

 

[BYH]

Still holding out hope the Yanks sign Matsuzaka, A_F?

And yes: The same Red Sox who wouldn't get Bobby Abreu just to screw the Yankees are now bidding $51 million to screw the Yankees.

 

[fever_dog]

not any different than college football players getting drafted in the NFL and getting $50 million. they are equally unproven.

plus, if the red sox don't reach a deal, they don't owe anybody anything.

 

[Angola!]

The NFL is not a very good comparison, though, because the contracts aren't guaranteed. The Red Sox may be paying this money regretfully for years to come if he turns into a "fat, pussy toad."

 

[BYH]

The Sox are not bidding $51 million just to fork around.

And this works out well for both parties: The Sox don't give deals of more than four years and Boras can get a gargantuan three-year deal and get him back out in free agency at 29.

 

[fever_dog]

The NFL is not a very good comparison, though, because the contracts aren't guaranteed. The Red Sox may be paying this money regretfully for years to come if he turns into a "fat, pussy toad."

but large portions of nfl contracts can be guaranteed, and with a hard cap, the contracts have the potential to be way more crippling. vince young is guaranteed almost $30 million.

to the sox? eh, it's just money.

 

[Oz]

The Sox are not bidding $51 million just to fork around.

And this works out well for both parties: The Sox don't give deals of more than four years and Boras can get a gargantuan three-year deal and get him back out in free agency at 29.

But would Boras cooperate on a four-year deal? Everything I've read said he's bent on a three-year deal so Mats could become a free agent before he turns 30.

 

[outofplace]

The Sox are not bidding $51 million just to fork around.

And this works out well for both parties: The Sox don't give deals of more than four years and Boras can get a gargantuan three-year deal and get him back out in free agency at 29.

But would Boras cooperate on a four-year deal? Everything I've read said he's bent on a three-year deal so Mats could become a free agent before he turns 30.

I'm not sure Boras gets everything he wants this time, not when the other option for his client is returning to Japan and waiting to be a free agent two more years from now.

 

[BYH]

The Sox are not bidding $51 million just to fork around.

And this works out well for both parties: The Sox don't give deals of more than four years and Boras can get a gargantuan three-year deal and get him back out in free agency at 29.

But would Boras cooperate on a four-year deal? Everything I've read said he's bent on a three-year deal so Mats could become a free agent before he turns 30.

I meant I don't think the Sox will insist on a four-year deal. I think a three-year deal is perfect for everyone. If he's the real deal, the Sox might win a World Series and Matsuzaka makes a shitload more $$$$ in three winters. If he's not, the Sox aren't hamstrung long-term and Matsuzaka has already made a shitload of $$$$.