Mariners Backing Off On Matsuzaka?

Larry Stone has an excellent article for the Seattle Times outlining the process for Daisuke Matsuzaka.  He mentions two baseball sources who indicated that the Mariners will make just a token bid for the coveted hurler.  To me this info only cements the Yankees' status as the frontrunner.

Instead, Stone mentions that Bill Bavasi might focus his money to acquire Jason Schmidt or Barry Zito. 

It's expected that Seibu will post Matsuzaka in the first or second week of November.  After that teams will have four days to submit bids.  MLB will notify Seibu of the winning bid amount but not the team.  If the bid is accepted, a contract must be reached within 30 days. 

Comments

[Kramerica Industries]

Personally I dont think the Yankees will get him I think a team will shock everyone with a huge bid wither the Mets or Boston big PR boost if they snag him form the Yanks for both teams

[cylix3341]

i know its a long shot, but I can dream can't i? How bout Matsuzaka behind Carpenter? lol.... maybe with all the extra revenue from those World Series games the cards will pony up the dough and get the 1-2 punch they have lacked but always wanted. Let Weaver(5-7 mil per) and Suppan(7-9 mil per) go and use that money to secure a true #2 guy.....ok I am back in reality now.....

[Paul AKA twinsfan]

Well due to super secert insider information I have I expect the Twins to win the bid with a 35.875 Mil bid.(Scout.com profile with Matsuzaka had the twins cap next to it)

PS I also started drinking early today so that may affect my judgement.

[Kevin G.]

I'm skeptical about the rumors from Seattle that Bavasi won't pursue Matsuzaka. I believe he *said* that, but I don't believe he *meant* it.

Seriously, if he really wasn't interested, why would he say so? Everyone figured they were a serious player and likely strong bidder for Matsuzaka's services. By claiming that he isn't going to be a strong bidder, all he would be doing is letting other teams feel more comfortable with a lower bid. If he really didn't want to pursue with a strong bid, then the logical thing for him to do is to let everyone continue to think that he WAS going to bid strong ... let his competition spend as much $$$ as possible.

Now, if he wanted to increase his chances of getting away with a slightly lower bid, he'd back off and leak some rumors that he wasn't a strong bidder (which is what he did).

I just don't see why he'd let everyone know what his plans were for the secret bid.

-Kevin

[TheRealErik]

Mets, Yankees, Red Sox. No other team has a chance in hell, IMO.

[Kramerica Industries]

Eric i think you 100 percent correct on this one

[twentyfivemanroster]

Laugh all you want, but...I wouldn't be all that shocked if the Royals made a serious run at him. They have some money that they banked, primarily for Gordon and Butler, but when you have a team that no free agent really want's to play for, why not go out and make a decent bid on Matsuzaka when you have no other teams that you are trying to outbid. If they fail to sign him, at least they won't lose their $$ and no other team will have access to him this upcoming season.

[DRWheelock]

Interestingly right when Bavasi was hired he made similiar comments about "possibly" letting Ichiro walk, instead of resigning him.

Fans thought it "could" be a negotiating ploy for Bavasi.

BUT THEN, there were strong inside rumors that our Japanese owner personally called and went over Bavasi's head and told our Mariner Brass that WE WILL resign Ichiro WHATEVER it takes to get him resigned. Within 5 days Seattle had Ichiro inked to another 3 yr deal!

When it comes to our Japanese connections, the BIG Mariner Brass will step in "if" need be.

Bavasi knows all this, and all Mariner Brass know that this entire posting processing with DM is getting out of control. So therefore we have Bavasi's comments, to try and get teams to be MORE realistic with their posting fee.

DONT count Seattle out just yet!

I see them going hard for Schmidt IMMEDIATELY, and whatever posting fee they can win with DM and/or Igawa will just add to their rotation depth.

Seattle's signing 3 top pitchers this offseason...YOU HAVE MY WORD ON IT!

Now if I can just get Bavasi to say that! :)

[levelboss]

1) Matsuzaka
2) Moose
3) Johnson
4) Wang
5) Karstens

sounds nice to me

[Ankur]

Karstens? Try Hughes.

[DRWheelock]

1) Schmidt
2) Matsuzaka
3) Igawa
4) Felix Hernandez
5) Washburn

Best Rotation in 2007 in MLB...Sounds awesome to me!

[Tak]

It surely does, though I doubt it will happen >.<

I have to agree that NY still has the biggest chance of getting Matsuzaka, but I do not think the above statement by the Mariners is real. I have to agree with Kevin's comment, if you are not going to post seriously, at least make whoever is going to pay more than they need to.

[levelboss]

"Try Hughes."

try 'a couple of years from now'; Hughes is still way too young; he's not even in Triple-A yet!

[Ankur]

Maybe it is my bias, but I live right near Trenton and several of the local writers are saying to expect Hughes to be major league ready sometime midseason.

[RotoAuthority]

That ain't bias. I've read the same many times. If you dominate Double A like that you are probably a few months from the Majors.

[bdid]

Zito
Pedro
Matsazuka
Perez
Maine

BEST IN BIGS!

[levelboss]

"If you dominate Double A like that you are probably.."

gonna go to Triple-A Scranton

MAYBE they'll bring Hughes in as a short reliever mid-season just to test the water, but i'm guessing that it's still too early to consider Hughes as a starter in the mlb

[RotoAuthority]

Won't start season in Majors, but if he shows well for two months at Columbus and the Yanks have a need he'll be in the rotation.

[levelboss]

^ Scranton, PA is the new Triple-A affiliate and not Columbus

[Paul AKA twinsfan]

Ain't no party like a Scranton party because a Scranton party don't stop.