Cubs To Enter Matsuzaka Bidding

Being a Cubs fan is all about hope.  Jim Hendry's assertion yesterday that the team will enter the bidding for Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka should keep the positive vibes going around the team.

It's important to note, though, that every team has some level of interest in Matsuzaka and nearly every team will place a bid.  There's no danger in bidding too low - only upside.  Still, the thought of Matsuzaka behind Carlos Zambrano makes Cubs fans salivate.  Suddenly the Cubs would have the makings of a rotation - Rich Hill in the third slot, a mid-level free agent as #4, and Mark Prior et al. filling out the fifth spot.  I'm letting my imagination run wild though - a more likely scenario is that Matsuzaka is a million bucks beyond the team's budget so Hendry signs Gil Meche to a four-year deal with an out clause in case he pitches well.

With or without Matsuzaka, that #4 starter could come from Japan.  Jim Hendry mentioned "two or three pitchers over there we feel can start here," one of which could be Kei Igawa.

The Cubs join the Angels, Royals, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Rangers, Orioles, Dodgers, Mariners, and Padres as the ten most interested clubs.  Who else thinks the winning bid tops $30MM?

Comments

[Jman]

I wonder if the bid amount will go against the Cubs payroll. If so then I don't expect them to be high bidders.
Not sure if it will go over 30M or not. I'd have to think that most teams wouldn't be willing to throw that much cash at his bid rights. If the bidder goes higher than 30M then it'll be the Yanks. I can't see any other team willing to post that much. I see the Cubs bidding no more than 15M.

[ozziethesaint]

Honestly I can see both the Yanks and Seattle going over 30 million. Teams are going to have to open the wallets big time for this one. Matsuzaka is a special talent.We're talking about a guy that for most of the teams in the league can probably step in as their #1

[MetFanBen]

You mention that there's no danger in bidding too low. There's really no danger in bidding too higher either though, since the team only has to pay if they can come to an agreement with Matsuzaka (at least, I think that's the conclusion we came to last time, although no one seemed to be really certain). So why not go higher than $30 million? The winning team has exclusive rights to him for 6 years (unless they give it up), right? So that's only $5 million per year right there, he'll be worth more easily. What do you think he'll cost not including the price to negotiate with him? Can't be more than $10 million per year, Japanese players never cost more than that for their first contract. Matsuzaka at $15 million per year doesn't sound bad at all. Why NOT go to $35 million? What's another $1 million per year when you're talking about numbers this high?

[RotoAuthority]

Yeah this is the article bobo posted:

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/content/printer_friendly/tex/y2006/m09/d11/c1657081.jsp

Says the bid money is returned if the club and player can't make a deal within 30 days.

[Teetz]

From the Tribune

Hendry, however, indicated the Cubs put an unusual amount of effort into scouting Asia this season and believe they have found "two or three pitchers over there we feel can start here."

One of those could be Hiroki Kuroda, a 31-year-old right-hander who was 13-6 with a 1.86 ERA last season. He's an unrestricted free agent. Kazumi Saito, who outpitched Matsuzaka by going 18-5 with a 1.75 ERA this season, also could be available."

Here is a youtube video on Kazumi Saitoh. Looks to have about 90-93 fastball with a lot of sink. Good splitfinger. Seems to be a groundball pitcher and keeps the ball in the park. He is probably the guy the Cubs are targeting over Matsuzaka because the $ will be a lot lower.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFZSsosZek8

[RotoAuthority]

Kuroda I have read does not have desire to pitch in MLB even though he's a FA. Maybe some money would change his mind though.

[Devil Ray Boy]

That would be a nice pickup for the Cubs to get Matsuzaka. However, Lou Piniella, for some reason to bring back Rothschild that has a long history of his pitchers getting hurt. Rothschild would ruin that Matsuzaka. If it was a different pitching coach, Matsuzaka would be a great pitcher.