[EmpireWF]

The Red Sox have until next Thursday night at midnight to sign Daisuke Matsuzaka. As Will Carroll at Baseball Prospectus writes, the belief is they will have some trouble in doing so:

"Scott Boras is always busy this time of year, but he'll be working nearly full-time on Daisuke Matsuzaka. This one's going to go right down to the wire, and several Boston sources I spoke with are pessimistic. Many worry that Boras will try to find some loophole or get litigious if Matsuzaka is forced back to Japan for the next two seasons. That's right--the Monster wouldn't be eligible to be a free agent until after 2008, not next season. Something tells me Bud Selig might be involved in this deal."


I didn't know Matsuzaka would have to wait until after the 08 season...I'd think he wouldn't want to hold out. But will Boras cause it to happen?

[vtbub]

I had been under the impression that Boston and Boras had a good working relationship. They were suckered...er...took J.D. Drew and of course 'Tek is a Boras client.

While the ox may be uneasy about D-Mat's demands, with mediocre pitching going for top dollar, Boras is in a better position.

[rmjvol]

Originally Posted by vtbub

I had been under the impression that Boston and Boras had a good working relationship. They were suckered...er...took J.D. Drew and of course 'Tek is a Boras client.

While the ox may be uneasy about D-Mat's demands, with mediocre pitching going for top dollar, Boras is in a better position.

Welcome to GoTeamsGo, vtbub. Look forward to chatting with you.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

The Red Sox have until next Thursday night at midnight to sign Daisuke Matsuzaka. As Will Carroll at Baseball Prospectus writes, the belief is they will have some trouble in doing so:

"Scott Boras is always busy this time of year, but he'll be working nearly full-time on Daisuke Matsuzaka. This one's going to go right down to the wire, and several Boston sources I spoke with are pessimistic. Many worry that Boras will try to find some loophole or get litigious if Matsuzaka is forced back to Japan for the next two seasons. That's right--the Monster wouldn't be eligible to be a free agent until after 2008, not next season. Something tells me Bud Selig might be involved in this deal."


I didn't know Matsuzaka would have to wait until after the 08 season...I'd think he wouldn't want to hold out. But will Boras cause it to happen?

Why this major fuss over the Japanese pitcher?...to date the best they have sent over is Nomo...don't think this guy will be the next Ichiro or Matsui...I mean keeping him out of New York is one thing...but going gaga to the tune of 51 millions for the rights is another...

Yes, he is good 108-60 career in Japan...3-0 in the World Tourney and once threw 245 pitches in a game (I remember Nolan Ryan throwing about 220 in a game in the early 70's)...

But pitchers making such a job is risky at best...and I am not so sure I'd be eager to go play in Fenway...

we will see...

[vtbub]

Originally Posted by rmjvol

Welcome to GoTeamsGo, vtbub. Look forward to chatting with you.

Thanks! I like the setup.

[MVB]

Welcome to GoTeamsGo, vtbub!

I thought the Sox would definitely get this deal done, and it would really hurt them if they didn't.

[LSC9901]

After all the hoopla surrounding the $51.1 million bid the Red Sox posted to talk to Daisuke Matsuzaka, it appears a contract may not materialize.


More of the same news.

Negotiations between the team and the Japanese star pitcher have nearly broken down, the Boston Herald reported Sunday. A source familiar with the situation told the Herald late Saturday that unless "there is an abrupt change of course," the Red Sox will not strike a deal with Matsuzaka before the deadline midnight Thursday.
Attempts to reach Matsuzaka's agent, Scott Boras, were unsuccessful. The source blamed Boras for a lack of interest in the negotiations.
Matsuzaka signed with Boras in October and was posted for bidding in early November.
Matsuzaka was 17-5 with a 2.13 ERA and 200 strikeouts for his Japanese team, the Seibu Lions, this year. He throws in the high-90s, has good off-speed pitches and is known for his deceptive "gyroball," which has been likened to a screwball.
The Lions will not receive any of the $51.1 million if Matsuzaka does not sign. The initial offer made by the Red Sox was believed to be between $7-8 million a year for four-six years, but Boras was reportedly asking for nearly $15 million a year.
Though the Herald's source admitted that there is time for the outlook to change, as of Saturday night the team and Matsuzaka weren't close to finding a common ground. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Lefty Noob]

So what happens if Matsuzaka does not sign? Is he allowed to negotiate with any other MLB teams, or is that all she wrote?

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

So what happens if Matsuzaka does not sign? Is he allowed to negotiate with any other MLB teams, or is that all she wrote?

If Matsuzaka does not sign, he will have to return to Japan. After the 2008 season, he'll be able to come to the Majors as a free-agent available to all teams.

If I'm the guy though, I'm telling Boras to make a deal. Try and get it up to $10 Mil perhaps, but Matsuzaka will be throwing away two years worth of his possible MLB career along with a good chunk of change. The problem with Boras here is he has absolutely no leverage and his usual tactics rely on having leverage.

[MJHMarc]

Boras will go in the direction that his mind tells him to go. I don't think he cares about coming around next year, but then Matsuzaka will probably axe him and sign another agent. All Boras cares about is commission and not really the future of his players.

[MVB]

It seems that the Sox as eager to spend as we thought they were. And when you're dealing with a guy like Boras, that's never good.