Matsuzaka Talks Breaking Down

The outlook is not so good for the Red Sox to sign Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka.  Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald writes that talks are "breaking down."  Silverman's source places to blame on agent Scott Boras, who apparently doesn't feel like making a deal.  As Buster Olney notes, that certainly sounds like it originates from the Red Sox. 

Olney also notes that the Sox will probably provide what amounts to a blank check to Roger Clemens should they fail to sign Matsuzaka.  While there has been some talk of Clemens pitching for all of 2007, his agent is pushing for another shortened season.

To me that makes the Yanks more likely to be players, as by June one of Wang, Johnson, Mussina, Pettitte, or Igawa could certainly be injured.  If someone had to be bumped to accomodate Clemens for one year, who would it be? 

Comments

[Paul Taschereau JR]

I said it once and I'll say it again...THE BOSTON RED SOX WILL SIGN DAISUKE MATSUZUKA...IF MATSUZUAKA HAS TOO HE WILL FIRE BORAS...HE WANTS TO PITCH IN AMERICA...IF HE DOSN'T SIGN THAN I WILL JUMP OFF A BRIDGE...THATS HOW SURPRISED I'LL BE

[was385]

Plus there is a misconception that he will be a free agent after this season when really he has two more years left to go. He wants to pitch in the majors, Boras wants that 10%, and the Sox want a starter. It will happen

[Gugs87]

Theo Epstein should:

1. Sign Matsuzaka.
2. Sign Clemens.
3. Move Papelbon back to the bullpen.
4. Wait 10 months.
5. Enjoy the World Series parade.

[papi4prez]

How many times does it have to be said? Papelbon is not going back to the bullpen. It's not a matter of baseball but rather health. He needs to save his shoulder and pitch in the rotation.

[papi4prez]

But yes, a rotation of Schilling, Clemens, Matsuzaka, Beckett, Papelbon would own. Question is whether they wanna fork over the dough for both Mats and Clemens. I would, bite the bullet for one year, give Clemens his storybook ending and give the Sox another World Series.

[Paul Taschereau JR]

The next person that mentions Papelbon gong back to the bull pen should be banned from posting on this site because this is starting to get out of hand. HOW HARD IS IT TO GET IT THROGH SOME PEOPLE'S MINDS: HE CANNONT PITCH OUT OF THE BULLPEN FOR MEDICAL REASONS...PERIOD...IT CANNONT BE SAID ANY CLEARER THAN THAT

[CJ]

The popular thought in Houston is that the loss of Pettitte increases the chances that Clemens won't re-sign with the Astros. But I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up increasing what the Astros are willing to pay Clemens (which, based on last year's contract, is mind boggling). The Astros' owner, McLane, suffered some public relations damage from Pettitte and would suffer even more if Clemens pitched elsewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if he does everything possible to get Clemens back. Remember that Clemens still has a personal services contract with the Astros, a son in the Astros' minor league system, and a helluva deal in terms of being allowed to come and go as he pleases.

[Dicky LaRue]

Paul -- Be prepared to jump off the bridge later this week and then if you survive the fall, be prepared to come up with an alternate suicide plan when after the negotiation window closes, DMat and Boras buy his free agency from the Japanese club for around 30 million and then he signs for top dollar with the Yankees as a free agent for this upcoming season. The Yankees will refund that 30 million that Boras and Dmat put out in his contract plus Boras will be able to commission every cent of it of what DMat makes in this scenario. Boras can't commission the 51 million and he can't live with that and DMat can't live with the team getting that much money and him getting only 1/2 the salary he would get if he were a true free agent. This is what Boras has been working toward the whole time since and the Japanese club will grant him his free agency when he buys it from them. There are no rules against that.

[Paul Taschereau JR]

THE RED SOX AND BORAS WILL WORK IT OUT (SORRY FOR ALL THE CAPS LOCK BUT I HELD THE SHIFT KEY FOR EIGHT SECONDS AND IT LOCKED SOMETHING UP)

[Paul Taschereau JR]

THE RED SOX AND BORAS WILL WORK IT OUT (SORRY FOR ALL THE CAPS LOCK BUT I HELD THE SHIFT KEY FOR EIGHT SECONDS AND IT LOCKED SOMETHING UP)

[ScottBrosius]

What we need to do is ask Steve Phillips what will happen and assume the opposite.

[Paul Taschereau JR]

where is steve when you need him

[EM3]

I think this is all premeditated by Boras and D-Mat.
Boras knows that MLB, the Lions, the Sox, and the fans will be FURIOUS if this posting system results in a disaster. He is going to use that Fury against him, and deflect it against the posting system when negotiations end in a stalemate.
Eventually, I think his goal his to pay Seibu about $30M out of his own pocket for the rights to DMat. And then Boras can offer DMat as a FA to anyone.
In this market, with the Sox, Mets and Yanks all interested, DMat would probably fetch a 6 year, 120M deal. DMat will then pay back Boras the $30M (plus commission), and take the 6 years, 90M for himself.

Just a theory...

[Paul Taschereau JR]

Nice theory but don't think that would happen...if it did baseball would go under a huge scandel and would collapse

[ScottBrosius]

"baseball would go under a huge scandel and would collapse "

Or just all the crazy sox fans who were mad that lowballing didn't work will jump off a bridge.

[EM3]

I'm sox fan, and I would be okay with it. As the Sox were willing to commit $90M over 4 years to DMAT ($51M plus a 4/40 deal), they would definitely not be outbid by any team for him, and would probably save money in the end.

[henry14theking]

I've heard a couple of things:

1. That Matsuzaka isn't a free agent next year. So Seibu won't exert much pressure if the bid doesn't go through because they'll simply recoup that money next year anyway.

2. If Matsuzaka is a free agent, then there'll be more pressure from Seibu so they don't lose the bid money all together.

Either way, the 7 million a year offer is an insult considering that Marquis will be making that amount. And trust me, Matsuzaka probably considers it an insult.

[Paul Taschereau JR]

We always hear the same thing all the time in situations like this...He will sign....and you can quote me on that

[greenbaydude1232]

No one will give a guy who has never pitched a single pitch in the major leagues 6/120.

[basemonkey]

This kind of standoff is typical Boras and it's hard to make heads or tails of the news coming out on DMat's negotiations. This public grudge match might be just tactics being racheted up a few notches to ante up the pressure. That being said, everything I've heard as far as speculated numbers on these talks have seemed waaaay far apart from Day 1.

Personally I think DMat is going to be a Lion. Boras is a very shrewd negotiator (as much as I dislike the guy) and he knows for him to be effective, he has to be perfectly willing to walk away from the table. With the lack of competing bids, that's just about all Boras has here. I don't think it will be enough for him to close such a wide gap of what some have said is almost double what the BoSox offered.

[alexvires]

Gugs-

you clearly have not learned from the Yankees' inability to Buy a series in the last 5 years.

I would absolutely LOVE to see both Pettite AND Clemens gone from Houston though.

If he does stay in houston:

"Roger Clemens signs for 25mil/1 year in May."

LMAO.

[EM3]

"No one will give a guy who has never pitched a single pitch in the major leagues 6/120."

If Boston was giving up $51M to talk to him, and offering him 4/32, as reported, that equates to 4 years, $83M, which is greater than $20M per year.

So I dont get your logic.

[manramfan]

I think what everyone fails to remember is how important the Sox are to Boras. Some teams won't even touch Boras-represented clients. The Red Sox have exhibited this year that they are not among those teams, throwing millions of dollars and extra years at a risk like J.D. Drew and signing another Boras represented client in Julio Lugo to go along with Jason Varitek and Alex Cora. This side of the Yankees, the Sox are most likely the biggest market. Scott Boras can't afford to lose this connection for the future of his clients... ESPECIALLY if D-Mat eventually signs with the Yanks. Boston would never deal with Boras again.

[baseballfan06]

Conspiracy Theory:

I thought this from the moment i read the ridiculous $51 million bid the Red Sox put on this kid, so now I'll see if anyone agrees. DO you guys think its possible that the Red Sox over-bid on D-Mat with no intention of ever signing the guy. I think they just wanted to keep him away from the Yankees...remember they get the 51 mill back if negotiations fall through.

[alexvires]

actually, i guess he was already getting that with his 22 in june lol...

[Paul Taschereau JR]

"No one will give a guy who has never pitched a single pitch in the major leagues 6/120."

If Boston was giving up $51M to talk to him, and offering him 4/32, as reported, that equates to 4 years, $83M, which is greater than $20M per year.

So I dont get your logic.

Actually that logic makes perfect sense. Bidding for a guy is totally different than from what you are willing to pay them. I would never give someone who has never walked on major league grounds $15 million either, however, i would bid as much as $51 million...why? Its a win/win situation...You win the bidding you can negotiate if you don't agree you don't lose money...if you sign him you get a great player and you gain money from a foreign market

[henry14theking]

baseballfan: maybe. But they'll lose all credibility in the Japanese market. This would be a bad move if they didn't sign.

[jondogg1985]

You guys are obviously not Red Sox fans. I have known all along that this will be taken to day 30. Boras, the Red Sox and everyone involved are bluffing. 7 million is NOT, I repeat NOT the highest per year bid. He will sign for 4 years, not this 6 year bullcrap. Do you get that he is 26, and a 6 year wil put him past his prime, thus reducing his next free agent contract. So bottom line: On the last day, Matsuzaka signs 4 years 60 million.

[ScottBrosius]

All this stuff about Boras needing the red sox is a bunch of bunk. This is a business. Damon was Boras client, and he left the Sox when they lowballed him. That didn't stop them from going after Drew this year. The sox need Boras's players.

[Paul Taschereau JR]

"You guys are obviously not Red Sox fans. I have known all along that this will be taken to day 30. Boras, the Red Sox and everyone involved are bluffing. 7 million is NOT, I repeat NOT the highest per year bid. He will sign for 4 years, not this 6 year bullcrap. Do you get that he is 26, and a 6 year wil put him past his prime, thus reducing his next free agent contract. So bottom line: On the last day, Matsuzaka signs 4 years 60 million."

Careful how you word this buddy...there have been a few comments on this board by people who have said he will sign with Boston...take a look at my posts for example

[papi4prez]

baseballfan, you're obviously new to this site. We discussed the whole conspiracy thing over and over again when the bid was announced. It doesn't make sense. The Sox block him from the Yankees, then he just comes to the Yankees anyways when he becomes a free agent and saves them a ton of money in posting fees. It would have been better to let him go through the process and hope another team outbid the Yankees (which would have happened), and even if the Yanks won, it would cost them a hell of a lot more money than it would if they waited for his FA.

Besides, the Sox want and need this guy. Without him, we're in more trouble. That said, I think they will still sign him. Boras deals always go to the last minute.

[papi4prez]

As for Clemens, I'd say his odds are 60% Astros, 30% Red Sox, 10% Yankees. Just because Pettitte signed with the Yanks doesn't mean much for Clemens. I see the hometown thing being a huge factor again, but it's also the case that Clemens will once again get no run support and pretty much no chance at a World Series if he stays with the Astros, and he's well aware of this. Just my two cents.

[bdid]

Question:

How can Boston possibly justify only giving a guy 7-9 million a year, when they clearly let everyone know that they thought he was a complete ACE by throwing 51 million into the pot just to talk to him? The player SHOULD NOT be penalized because the team trying to get him gave a ton of cash to the Lions. BOSOX felt he was an ACE, and should pay HIM like an ACE. I can't blame Boras and Matsu for demanding more that Gil Meche. The Sox should not have offered that kind of cash if they didn't feel he is worth it.

[Gleebo]

Any one else notice how the liveliest debates in MLB since the strike ended in '95 have nothing to do with the games played on the field at all?

The free agent shenanigans and steroid controversy is all the general public hear about. Its frustrating when a sport that has been considered the national pasttime for more than a century takes a back seat to the NFL and sometimes even the NBA.

Joe Blow in Provo, Utah probably couldn't name a player from the World Champion St Louis Cardinals(if they even know they won the WS), but they could tell you who they think is a steroid enhanced cheater without watching a single game the past 5 years.

Its easy to blame the media for this, but its really the fault of agents like Boras, money is no object owners like Steinbrenner, and players who cant compose themselves as anything less than a liar(on the steroid front) when confronted about it.

Perhaps if Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds were more willing to "be here to talk about the past" or "stopped accusing the media of making their children cry," people would care about the 162 games each team plays.

[DunkinDonuts]

bdid,

Your post is very short-sighted.

The bid comprises a number of factors, not the least of which include paying a premium to expand the talent pool beyond a thin free agent pitching market, and ensuring that such a potential commodity does not fall under the control of competitors.

The $51.1M bid is not a gesture in recognition of Matsuzaka's status as "the best"; it's a risky investment with the hope that Matsuzaka becomes "the best." To suggest that a bid for a player's rights (the cost of doing business in a tight market) is commensurate with the price that the unproven player himself should be paid for his first contract is absurd.

This is like saying a record company that is confident that an artist will go platinum should offer Jay-Z/P.Diddy/Eminem money for that artist's first album. The real world doesn't work this way, and if it did, the word "investment" would lose its meaning. The fact that Matsuzaka does not have the leverage to command $20M a year certainly factored into the posting fee. If Matsuzaka were projected to command $20M a year, the posting fee likely would have been nominal. The only thing that makes the fee even remotely defensible is the fact that it might project to an amount reasonably comparable to the salary of a top-tier starter when combined with the "discount" reaped from Matsuzaka's inexperience in the U.S.

Matsuzaka should not be paid like he is "the best" when he has yet to prove himself in this league. He should be paid like "the best free agent pitcher to come out of Japan through a contentious posting process in the midst of a seller's market, but who also faces the prospect of returning to Japan for another year at a susbtantially lower salary if he decides to hold out."

[integr96]

another possibility is that if no deal is worked out with boras, then maybe seibu reposts him immediately. is there anything saying that they would have to wait another year? i mean there is a lot of the offseason still remaining.

[ScottBrosius]

Dunkin,

you guys just want it both ways. No matter what the advertising revenue is going to be, no team would bid 51.1 million to talk to the Japanese version of Gil Meche. They think he has more value so DMat has every right ot want to make more than Gil.

[DunkinDonuts]

Scott,

I think you ignored the post. The bid is not $51.1M reasons why D-Mat is the best thing since sliced bread. It's the price of doing business AGAINST OTHER TEAMS in an inflated market. What the Red Sox had to pay to win a right to negotiate under an MLB posting process in no way translates to what they should pay a pitcher who has never thrown in the major leagues.

These inflated salaries are as much a function of the union structure of rewarding service time as they are a recognition of talent. D-Mat has not put in that service time, and therefore he is not "entitled" to reap the rewards of the union system simply because the Red Sox paid an exorbitant posting fee.

As I mentioned above, if D-Mat did have the leverage of an MLB free agent, then the bid amount would never have come close to approaching $51.1M. D-Mat's status as a rookie was factored into that amount.

You're all trying to take apples and argue for all the ways they should translate to oranges. You can't ignore the realities of the business and compare D-Mat to Gil Meche. Gil Meche put in his time under the free agent system. D-Mat did not. Period.

[papi4prez]

Also, the reason the Sox offered $7-9M is just part of the negotiating process. The Sox probably figure him in the range of $13-15M, but that's not what they'll offer right away because that's not how negotiations will work. If the Sox think he's worth $13M, they offer $7M, Boras wants $20M, eventually it balances out to around the $13-15M. If the Sox come right out of the gate with that offer, then Boras asks for more than 20, then we end up paying him more than we think he's worth. It's just the business of negotiations. I bet we'll see Mats signed with somewhere from $13-16M per year when it's all said and done.

[greenbaydude1232]

integr96 - yes, part of the rules for the posting process is that he has to wait a full year to be posted again.

[micmillon18]

This is a damn joke. The Sox will most def sign Matsuzaka, not just because he is an amazing player and would dramtically improve their team but this signing is huge for MLB. If the Sox put that kind of cash out there and then failed in signin him, it would create a bad relationship between Japan and MLB. Matsuzaka wants to pitch here, infact hes in LA right now trying to have a more active play in the negotiations. And I'm pretty sure hes not going to want to go back, not to mention the fact that Seibu doesnt want him back. They want that hefty $51 mil the Sox put up for their star pitcher. I'm pretty sure after all this hype and media attention negotiations are not going to just break down. They will sign Matsuzaka, its too important not to.

[baseballfan06]

"baseballfan, you're obviously new to this site. We discussed the whole conspiracy thing over and over again when the bid was announced. It doesn't make sense. The Sox block him from the Yankees, then he just comes to the Yankees anyways when he becomes a free agent and saves them a ton of money in posting fees. It would have been better to let him go through the process and hope another team outbid the Yankees (which would have happened), and even if the Yanks won, it would cost them a hell of a lot more money than it would if they waited for his FA."

This is well taken but come on there are a few holes in this argument. First, the Red Sox are obviously trying to win THIS YEAR, and stopping the Yanks from getting this kid NOW helps their cause. Secondly, its the Yankees, is money really an option to them? Do you really believe that theyre scared to post 50 mill for this guy? I dont. Good strategy for the Sox if theyre tryin to win this year.

[spieldogg]

Theo is really trying to put the shovel to Stienbrenner isn't he? First he spends 51 million just so the spankees can't sign a guy. Now he is going to get that 51 million back and give it to Roger Clemens so the spanks can't have him. Cashman should say he is thinking of giving Zito a 150 million dollar contract and see if the Red Sux sign him and make them go broke.

[ScottBrosius]

Dunkin,

First of all, all this stuff about "deserve" is silly - this isn't an arbitration hearing. D-Matz "deserves" to have a choice - either sign for a lowball offer, or go back to japan, or try to buy out seibu. If the sox are willing to let him go back to Japan, fine, that is there choice. But I don't blame DMatz for being insulted at this offer.

I don't like the service-time argument. Ability as a pitcher matters more than servicetime as a MLB pitcher. Hideki Matsui didn't have any MLB service time - neither did Jose Contreras. That didn't undermine their value as free agents. Did they inequitably reap the rewards of the union structure - one which they never participated in nor paid dues? Why shouldn't d-matz also be able to do this? Because he happens to be under control of Seibu? That lacks any sort of coherent principle. He should just wait the year and a month or buy out seibu.

At best, meche and Matz should be making the same - which means Sox are lowballing by about 4 million. Really, Matz should be making significantly more. They paid 15 million more than the Mets - and the thing is, if either the Mets or Yankees had won this, no way in hell would this have happened. Only with the sox would this happen. No other team bid close to what the sox bid because they knew that D-Mat would cost 15 mill a year. As other people noted, everyone knew his agent was Boras.

[beeniez]

MLB's posting and drafting system is a joke. It's completely unfair to smaller market teams. Once this D-Mat story clears up, I wouldn't be surprised to see Selig change how it works.

Did D-Mat have a specific team he wanted to play for? Or just anything non-Seattle?

[papi4prez]

I never said the extra money would hinder the Yanks from signing Mats. They'll sign him if he's a FA, enough said. But I was just saying that if they're going to sign him, it'd be better if they did it through posting so they had to pay more money.

Sox are trying to build a team that would help both this year and the future of the franchise, and Matsuzaka does both. Just because the Sox dished out a lot of money makes people think they're just going for 2007, but it's not true.

[melyrules]

I think if d-mat does go to the redsox he'l be like all the other out of town pitchers coming to a big team.... THEY ALL SUCK

[papi4prez]

You obviously haven't seen this kid pitch.

[bobo]

DunkinDonuts has it right. Quite simply, a major reason why the bid was high is because Matsuzaka cannot command as high a yearly salary as a free agent can. Plain and simple.

On the open market right now, Matsuzaka would be making high teens, maybe $20M a year (though perhaps not on a 5 or 6 year contract, unless it was very incentive-based).

If he had this, say, $18M/year price tag predetermined, there's no way the bid would have been $51M.

I think the Red Sox miscalculated a bit by seeing this entire about dollars and cents. I DO absolutely think that part of their bid was to block the Yankees (there were even quotes to this effect: if they knew the Mets would have been 2nd, they wouldn't have bid so high). I DO think that they know on a monetary/talent basis, there is no downside to not signing him. What they probably underestimated was the fan backlash and the disappearance of alternatives if Matsuzaka does in fact go back to Japan.

[DunkinDonuts]

Scott,

Lack of MLB service time didn't deter teams from paying Matsui and Contreras as free agents because they were precisely that -- free agents.

Also, we have to acknowledge that their price was market-driven. The price went up because every team was eligible to bid for their services.

In this case, the Red Sox have already paid the market price for competition -- through the posting process. From a business standpoint, it makes no sense whatsoever to bid against yourself -- the only team eligible to sign a player -- by offering the player the kind of money it would take to trump 29 other teams. The other 29 teams are out of the picture.

As a practical business matter, you CANNOT divorce the posting fee from the amount that D-Mat is worth on the market, because the posting fee reflects the market.

What everyone who doesn't care about the business aspect of baseball is trying to argue is that D-Mat is a good pitcher creating a lot of stir, so he should be paid more than the other scrubs. What they're ignoring is that he, unlike they, is under contract.

If you want to argue that he should take his pitching arm and go home, waiting for a bigger payday all at once, I can't argue with that... it's a matter of opinion.

But if you're trying to argue that offering him less than Meche is getting is "lowballing," then once again you're ignoring the unique nature of the posting system, and the effect that it has on the market and on a player's leverage.

There's a reason rookies don't get paid $12-15M in their second year, regardless of how they perform. Because paying your dues within a compensation structure is an integral part of that compensation structure. D-Mat does indeed have a choice... but to say the Red Sox are lowballing for refusing to sink $26-27M per year into a rookie is absurd.

[melyrules]

thats right, never seen him. And he we be good, but just not as good. Lucky for d-mat, he wouldent have to face big papi if he signed with the sox.

[beeniez]

D-Mat signed a long term contract in Japan and he should fulfill his commitment. If he wants out of that contract badly enough, which the BoSox provided for him, he should take a big paycut. He's in no position to demand 13-15 million per year and the Red Sox know it. The MLB doesn't need him as much as D-Mat needs the MLB.

I just don't see him succeeding in such a huge town. No offense to you Boston fans, but Japanese fans are a little more passive than you guys - something he's probably not used to. The fact he doesn't speak English will probably help. Can you imagine how nervous he'll be if he pitches on opening day?

[melyrules]

the only japanese word I know is "konichiwa"

[greenbaydude1232]

D-Mat isn't going to pitch on opening day! Schilling has reserved that right with years and years of excellent MLB play. D-mat, need I remind you, totals 0!

[melyrules]

Why is anyone talking about opening day, he wont even be on the team! They wont get him! He should have been represented by arm tellem.

[beeniez]

I said IF he pitches on opening day. Who knows when he will? He supposed to be an ace and aces usually pitch on opening day. I just meant his first start of the season.

[ScottBrosius]

" it makes no sense whatsoever to bid against yourself -- the only team eligible to sign a player -- by offering the player the kind of money it would take to trump 29 other teams. "

Except for the fact that if the guy doesn't agree, you don't get him. Your basing the sox leverage on the idea that DMatz HAS to sign - I don't think that is true. Just because they aren't bidding against other teams doesn't mean that the player shouldn't get value. We can argue that market value is a poor indication because market value inaccurately represents player worth because of competition - maybe that is right - but unfortunately for the red sox this ISN'T an arbitration hearing and if they don't give DMatz what he wants, he isn't going to come.

I still don't know why DMatz can't buy out Seibu. Why doesn't he just do this and go get his 20 million a year? I'm sure seibu would give it to him for, say, 30 MM a year. Then he goes out and signs a 6 year, 120 million. That, minus the 30 million, works out to 15 million a year - which is what Boras is asking for. Why not?

[melyrules]

wait who chose boras to represent d-mat?

[JakeOD21]

I'm trying to be optimistic here, so I think in the end there will be a deal struck between the two sides.

There's just too much at stake here for all sides involved for there to not be a deal. Matsuzaka said farewell to his team, fans, and country in a very public way a few weeks ago. He seems to have committed himself to the idea of playing in the United States, and has said so may times.

I think the Sox are committed to making him a part of their future as well. The five most important people in the Red Sox organization (Henry, Werner, Lucchino, Epstein and Francona) flew all the way out to LA to have dinner with him and Boras a few weeks ago, a gesture that Matsuzaka was ecstatic over and apparently went over very well in Japan.

I'm not sure why Seibu would be content to take $30 million in a possible buyout by Boras when they had $51.1 million taken from them already, I would think they would rather just pitch Dice-K again for a year and then go through the posting system again. Of course, they want the $ more than anything, and I'm not sure they'd be willing to work with Boras if this all falls through.

Boras would also be screwing himself if he doesn't get a deal for Matsuzaka, because the Sox, with which he has a great relationship, would not want to work with him. Also, he would have a tough time securing Japanese clients after seeing this situation go the way it has. Just because Boras doesn't like the posting system, that doesn't mean that he doesn't have to work under its perameters. When he took on Dice-K as a client, he understood the process and it's pretty lousy for him to be crying about how unfair it is now.

Finally, the Red Sox know there will be an amazing amount of backlash from the fans if a deal doesn't happen. They have been lead on by the team that he was going to be part of the rotation for years to come, and that he was a big part of the 2007 team. If they don't sign him, a lot of their other moves this offseaon do not appear to make much sense.

In the end, there's too many bad things for all sides involved if a deal isnt agreed to. Dice-K might have to step in himself before Thursday. I agree with an above posting that he will make 4/$60.

[melyrules]

what about the negatives?

[wihargo]

Remember when Magglio Ordonez signed really late 2 years ago? or when Kevin Millwood signed a cheap one year to get a huge long term?
The only time I can think that a Boras client got messed over was Matt Harrington the second time he got drafted.
Something will get worked out here, there is simply too much money to be made.

[melyrules]

who the hells matt harrington?

[levelboss]

hilarious how the Red Sox overbid on D-Mats (i think they could've won the bid with about $38 mil), and THEN they lowball the actual contract

[melyrules]

the red sox are gunna be broke! Drew, d-mat(pending), and manny!

[jondogg1985]

Ok, I just found out from my sources that the Red Sox will announce tomorrow that D-Mat has signed a 6 year $72 million dollar contract to be announced tommorrow.

[levelboss]

at least now the Yankees have an incentive for Roger Clemens that the Red Sox and the Astros don't have - Andy Pettitte

now if Cashman puts up a simlar contract to that of Pettitte (1 yr @ staggering amount with an option for a second year) i think the Yankees actually have a better chance at acquiring Clemens than the Red Sox or the Astros

[JakeOD21]

melyrules, I think I outlined all the negatives if a deal doesn't get done.

I don't see a lot of negatives if a deal does get done, besides the fact that Boras will feel he could have gotten his client more money in a different system. That is not enough, however, for a deal not to get done.

levelboss, the Sox are definitely not lowballing Dice-K. Refer to an above posting by Dunkin Donuts.

[levelboss]

if the Red Sox sign D-Mats, then i think the chances are less likely that they'd have any huge financial challenge for Clemens

[papi4prez]

The Yankees aren't getting Clemens. Quit your pipedreams.

[ScottBrosius]

"I'm not sure why Seibu would be content to take $30 million in a possible buyout by Boras when they had $51.1 million taken from them already, I would think they would rather just pitch Dice-K again for a year and then go through the posting system again. Of course, they want the $ more than anything, and I'm not sure they'd be willing to work with Boras if this all falls through."

Because their alternative is zero as it looks unlikely the posting process would work any better next year. if it fails next year, they get nothing. 30 million ain't bad.

[papi4prez]

Astros will get him, Sox a long shot. We'd pretty much write him a blank check, like said above. Money wouldn't matter with Clemens.

[melyrules]

johndog1985, what are your sources?

[jondogg1985]

Can we put the Clemens talks to rest? Can you see what the Sox are doing? D-Mat: 26 years old; Beckett and Paps is 26. They are going YOUNG. Who cares about Clemens, and will he retire if he has to carry a cane, or perhaps a motor wheel chair? Enough already.

[ScottBrosius]

"The Yankees aren't getting Clemens. Quit your pipedreams"

People said exactly the same thing about Pettitte.

[papi4prez]

I need to rephrase, money wouldn't matter to the Sox with Clemens.

[papi4prez]

"People said exactly the same thing about Pettitte."

I didn't.

[ScottBrosius]

JDogg, if that rumor is true, great deal for sox. 6 years for Gil Meche money? Boras got owned - he wanted more money and fewer years. This certainly puts a big chip in his reputation as a super-star agent.

[levelboss]

"The Yankees aren't getting Clemens. Quit your pipedreams."

BWAHAHAHA

people were thinking the same thing with Pettitte, and then look what happened

[JakeOD21]

jondogg, care to give up your sorce?

I guess my point, Scott, is that I feel like the Lions won't want anything to do with Boras. Lucchino made a trip to Japan to talk to discuss business with their owner. I doubt that the Lions would hold the Red Sox accountable for a deal not getting done, they would blame Boras. Just my opinion.

[ScottBrosius]

Jake,

Seibu is in desperate need of money. That's why the posted him to begin with. They might not like boras, but passing up 30 million - I don't care if the Japanese care about image, they aren't stupid.

[melyrules]

johndog, are you just making that up to piss us yankee fans off?

[jondogg1985]

Ok, Gil Meche sucks, and he got overpaid. D-Mat is unproven. What.

[melyrules]

still wait'n on that source

[jondogg1985]

get my name right brocius. no, i have 3 sources, and i have no reason to lie, because i dont care if they sign him or not.

[melyrules]

jondog, what is your team then?

[jondogg1985]

do i really need to give my sources? fine; wikipedia.com, weei in boston and my good friend who has his own radio show in portland maine.

[jondogg1985]

Die-Hard Sox fan, but I don't lose my jizz over one player.

[ScottBrosius]

Meche sucks, and in this market, sucks = 12 million a year.

So, D-Mat, the top 10 pitcher in the world, is as good as Gil Meche.

If that's the deal, Sox did EXCELLENT. Second best value in baseball - to David Ortiz.

[melyrules]

wikapedia! wikapedia sucks!

[JakeOD21]

jondogg, all three of your "sources" are confirming this?

If it is true, definitely great signing by the Sox. I think if it is true, then Boras clearly caved under pressure probably from Matsuzaka himself. When Dice-K came to the US this weekend, he may have just told Boras to get him a deal with the Sox regardless of money. If this is true, of course.

[melyrules]

i'm gunna go check mlb.com right now and look for a update.

[jondogg1985]

I know, which is why I called up both of my other sources to confirm. I was the first to report on the Schilling signing, Papi's contract renewal, and more, so I am not one of you people who lie on this website. I am not a member of other websites, and I don't post on any either.

[ScottBrosius]

You mean the wikipedia revision which its history notes was made by someone with the username "Jondogg1985"?

Hmm... great source, dood.

[melyrules]

mlb.com says d-mat talks are stalled. Maybe mlb.com is stalled

[melyrules]

what ever happend to iwamura?

[JakeOD21]

mely i heard the iwamura talks are less far along than the matsuzaka talks are. There appears to be less of a chance that happens.

[melyrules]

well it is the devil rays.

[melyrules]

it's actually melkyrules, but something must abbreviate it.

[ScottBrosius]

I think melkyrulz would have worked better

[melyrules]

what about igawa?

[ScottBrosius]

WIKI reports

On December 10th the Boston Red Sox and Daisuke Matsuzaka agreed to a 25 year 3.5 billion dallor contract. The asian sensation would like to thank agent scott boras for the contract he has recieved, and plans on repaying by slobing on his knob everyday for the next year.

[melyrules]

people always edit wiki anyway.

[melyrules]

i still dont belive anything.

[greenbaydude1232]

haha thats hilarious...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisuke_Matsuzaka/

as posted above (hes not joking):

On December 10th the Boston Red Sox and Daisuke Matsuzaka agreed to a 25 year 3.5 billion dallor contract. The asian sensation would like to thank agent scott boras for the contract he has recieved, and plans on repaying by slobing on his knob everyday for the next year.

Wikipedia is such a joke

[melyrules]

it's all a joke

[melyrules]

i'd rather talk about igawa or iwamura or zito or something . Reports all have the red sox moving on and forgetting about d-mat. Sox suck, boras sucks, d-mat dosent suck, but he wont pitch in the us this year, bummer.

[the Impossible Dream]

People need to get the dream out of their head. There will be no side deal with Boras to buy Dice-K's rights. He pitches for Boston in 2007, or for someone else in 2009. Seibu won't post him next year if he doesn't get them this money.

He signs, or he's back in Japan. Simple as that. The rest is a media circus trying to get one side to buckle. My bet? Boras will cave if he wants more Japanese clients.

[melyrules]

wait what?

[ScottBrosius]

Impossible Dream,

What is this based on? Your own personal feelings?

I still see no reason why Boras can't buy out D-matz rights, and why he wouldn't if the Sox keep lowballing. Everyone thought he'd cave with Damon because Damon wanted to stay in boston. Didn't happen.

BTW, if boston were to get a steal of a deal that JDogg were describing, THAT is a total boras cavejob and I'd put that contract up there with Ortiz's contract extension as more theo mastery.

[melyrules]

jdogg said wikipedia was his source. How did that turn out.

[JakeOD21]

to be fair to jondogg, he did say he checked with sources at weei and another radio station. so there is at least some level of credibility to what he is saying.

[DoctorCurveBall]

Instead of arguing about Jondogg1985's sources, let's wait 24 hours and see if he's right.

[greenbaydude1232]

he was just trying to get everyones attention...the dude is a little liar who has nothing better to do with his life...

let it go. there were no "other sources" it was all made up

[melyrules]

dident he say "we here in boston" and some guy from maine

[melyrules]

i guess there was no guy from maine and he just wanted to piss us off

[DoctorCurveBall]

melyrules, why dont you post your comments as one instead of making 3 or 4 posts in a row?

[melyrules]

true, very true

[melyrules]

if d-mat passes, who will sign him in 09'

[beeniez]

How many clients can one agent have? It seems like Boras has 3-4 on each team. He must be an extremely busy man in the offseason.

[melyrules]

well boras is supposed to be a "super agent".

[wihargo]

melyrules, matt harrington was the top HS rhp (and maybe the top talent?) in the 2000 draft. He slipped to 7th for signability issues and never signed despite being offered a decent bonus. He fired his old agent, hired Boras and was redrafted the next year. If I recall correctly, Boras told him not to take the Padres offer (which was still an alright offer), and he again failed to sign. The next year he was drafted and he got a waaaay smaller bonus offer, which he also refused to take. But basically he expected Boras to get him serious money the 2nd time around, he didn't and everyone lost. I think that he has somekind of tryout arrangement with the Cubs right now.

[melyrules]

thank's, that was a long time ago. How did you remember?

[wihargo]

I'm getting older?

[melyrules]

well, lets hope matt harrington dosent get good with the cubs:) (no offense if your a cub fan)

[jmonahan7]

Of course this deal is going to get done and if that deal posted above is true its robbery.

Matsuzaka wants to pitch here so bad he'll fire Boras if he has to.Also, i recall hearing somewhere that Seibu is pressuring him to get a deal done by threatening to send him down to the minors if he doesnt get something done. The Red Sox know that they have created an insatiable hunger for there fans to see this guy in a Red Sox uni and everyone of them would probably jump off the Green Monster onto Lansdowne Street if they dont.

Also, realistically this deal probably needs to get done by Tuesday because they'll need to get him in for a physical before Thursday.

[melyrules]

theo will be assassanated by wednesday.

[jmonahan7]

Do we know who is reporting that the talks are breaking down? Because if its Steve Phillips then its probably already signed and delivered.

[melyrules]

steve phillips should be fired

[jmonahan7]

I actually used to like him until i started visiting this board and realized how much of an idiot and a douche bag he is.

[melyrules]

did u like him when he was mets GM

[jmonahan7]

I didnt really pay any attention to him when he was Mets GM

[melyrules]

thank GOD he got fired! What would the mets be know if he were still GM.

[jmonahan7]

On the streets begging for scraps from the braves

[melyrules]

what about if phillips was a agent? If he was representing matsuzaka.

[tyler]

wow how soon you mets fans forget

[melyrules]

i'm not a met fan! I'm a yankee fan. Hense my screenname melkyrules

[tyler]

actually your sn is melyrules

[tyler]

i guess getting David Wright and Jose Reyes doesnt count for anything

[melyrules]

i know it's melyrules, but the computer abbreviated it. Wait, are you saying you LIKE STEVE PHILLIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jmonahan7]

Im saying that i used to, if you're talking to me.

[melyrules]

no i wasent talking to you. But it's the same question too you. As long as you dont like steve phillips now, everythings cool.

[tyler]

yeah i like steve phillips

[sirfreshness]

Boras had over 80 working for him at the winter meetings last week.

[melyrules]

how, how do you like him, what makes you like him, is he your dad or something?

[jmonahan7]

"i guess getting David Wright and Jose Reyes doesnt count for anything"

2 good players out of hundreds that he drafted/signed while he was GM? Wow, good arguement. I wish i was that smart.

[melyrules]

is your name tyler phillips?

[melyrules]

jmonahan, now u like steve phillips!

[tyler]

So you really are saying Wright and Reyes dont count for anything

[Rayman]

Well, this thread serves as an interesting read.

[melyrules]

wait, who u talken you?

[tyler]

his name is melky not mely

[melyrules]

I KNOW IT'S MELKY! It's just the computer abbreveated it. Everyones dvinen me crazy about it!

[tyler]

why would the computer abbreveate the k? that doesnt make any sense

[melyrules]

i dont get it either. When i log in as "melkyrules" it works. But when i use melyrules, It dosent. Maybe somebody already has melkyrules as a screemname.

[tyler]

yeah but his name is melky... yours says mely... thats not his name

[melyrules]

I KNOW!!!!!!!!!! I dont know wats going on!!!!!

[melyrules]

funny, this is suppost to be about matsuzaka, what ever happend to that?

[jondogg1985]

LOL!!!! You guys are all like kidergarten kids at recess. This is a Matsuzaka post not Steve Phillips post. Why don't you all get jobs or something. Also, when I am right, all of you who denied my other 2 sources when I left this, you know, because i have a life, you'll all be apoogizing to me.

[melyrules]

well you tottaly pulled a good prank on us, i give you props. But nobody cares about matsuzaka anymore. They no he's bound for japan. So all we talk about now is steve phillips and why my screenname is melyrules and not melky rules.

[tyler]

your an idiot jondogg

[Rayman]

You say that everyone is acting like a kid at recess, then make a "you have no life" joke. Man, I love irony.

[astrosfan]

Why does everyone assume than since Pettitte wanted to play in New York that Roger Clemens has any desire to leave Houston. Sure, his agents (Hendrick Brothers) will use the Red Sox and Yankees to jack up his price, but unless the aforementioned teams agree to the same cushy stipulations that the Astros freely give him, there's no way he's leaving.

[astrosfan]

Why does everyone assume than since Pettitte wanted to play in New York that Roger Clemens has any desire to leave Houston. Sure, his agents (Hendrick Brothers) will use the Red Sox and Yankees to jack up his price, but unless the aforementioned teams agree to the same cushy stipulations that the Astros freely give him, there's no way he's leaving.

[astrosfan]

Why does everyone assume than since Pettitte wanted to play in New York that Roger Clemens has any desire to leave Houston. Sure, his agents (Hendrick Brothers) will use the Red Sox and Yankees to jack up his price, but unless the aforementioned teams agree to the same cushy stipulations that the Astros freely give him, there's no way he's leaving.

[melyrules]

you dident have to post it 3 times!

[papi4prez]

melky, my guess is that you mispelled your name when you registered. you register both your log-in name and posting name, so I'm assuming you missed the K when you wrote the posting name.

[melyrules]

but why does it work when i use melky, not mely

[allabouthephils]

Lofton to the Rangers ???

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6258894

[melyrules]

i think this post is over, good night everyone, and a special thanks to johdog for being an ass

[melyrules]

wait,wait--whats this? Lofton? Rangers? Well just start a new post for god's sake!! Wait, wait--Matsuzaka, 3.2 billion, 25 years? JOHNDOGG SUCKS!! AND SO DOES MY SCREENNAME, MELY, I HATE THIS COMPUTER!!!

[allabouthephils]

Matt Stairs to the blue jays... there's another one...LOL
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/story/2006/12/10/stairs-jays.html

[hood]

anyone ead on rotoworld the DRAYS rejected Nolasco for Upton

[papi4prez]

Because you sign in under your log-in name. I don't sign in under papi4prez, that's just my posting name. I bet if you make a new name for melkyrules, you'll get it.

[allabouthephils]

No...... theirs no betting on that one...

Im sure you'll get it... No one else wants that name.... hahaha just kidding....

[melyrules]

melky's the coolest

[melyrules]

lets say the mariners call up a amazing prospect in the rule 5 draft next year called Mely Rodriguez, then there would be no problem with my screenname being mely

[melyrules]

YES!!! theres a basketball player named mely!

[rugbyboy11]

Why is everyone going crazy with this conspiracy theory stuff. Do you honestly think that the Mets are going to allow Scott Boras and the Yanks to do what you guys are all talking about? I think not, but once again thats just me. Waay up above someone mentioned that Matsui and Contreras signed for FA money, well thats because they were free agents. Anyone could have signed them. They didnt have to be posted or anything of the like. The sox were willing to pay 51 Mil for the posting because 1) it kept Dice-k away from any other team, 2) was a bid without any Lux Cap effects.

Dice-k has to and most likely will sign with the sox for a few reasons. The first being that scott boras will lose face in the entire east asian market and have a hard time representing ANY east asian player in the future. Another isssue that Boras has to worry about is "what if dice-k gets hurt" while waiting 2 years to become a free agent?

It also would not surprise me if Dice-k is recieving pressure from not only Seibu, but also Nike to sign in boston. The marketing revenu for nike would be tremendous if he signs in boston. Not only in the US but also in Japan.

Also everyone keeps sayin that the sox have to save face. I personally think that they're in the drivers seat with these negotiations cause they can go back and tell the fan base, "we showed good faith and interest in signing after the 51 mil posting fee. But we're not willing to pay a pitcher who has pitched 0 innings in MLB more than pitchers like Johan Santana, Roy Halladay, and Chris Carpenter are making"

[ScottBrosius]

The Mets can bid like everyone else. In fact, the Mets would likely outbid the yanks.

No one has provided me with a good reason for why Boras couldn't come to an agreement with Seibu. If Matz doesn't sign, and they get 0, would they really turn down a 30 million offer?

Rugby - i pointed out matsui and contreras because I did not like the argument that free agents have MLB service time and have paid union does so they deserve their market value, whereas DMat doesn't deserve market because he has no MLB service time. That's just silly. Everyone says DMatz has no legeverage - but he does. No matter how many times you guys say it, he does NOT have to sign. He can go back and wait.

I still don't know why boras can't just buy seibu out. If he does, and gets a big deal from EITHER the mets or the yanks, then all the east asian players will want him as their agent.

[jmonahan7]

"I still don't know why boras can't just buy seibu out. If he does, and gets a big deal from EITHER the mets or the yanks, then all the east asian players will want him as their agent."

If he tried to pull that and got away with it more that once they would change the rules faster than you could think.

[desturbd1]

I find it hard to believe that it'd be that easy for Boras to simply buy him out and put him on the market like any normal FA. If that were true, why hasn't anyone tried that before? Any agent representing any Japanese player would jump at a chance to make a move like that because it would almost certainly net their client a bigger deal then they'd get from whoever won the right to negotiate. And if Boras does try to pull something like that, it's going to look like he refused to negotiate in good faith with Boston, and had this in mind from the very beginning.

[beeniez]

Why doesn't Boras just buy out D-Mat's contract from Seibu? Because Seibu knows that teams are willing to pay 50 million for him. And they would be a fool to just let Boras simply buy out his contract for a couple million.

Finally, Boras is getting a taste of his own medicine.

[sirfreshness]

Boris wants the rules to be changed.

[rugbyboy11]

Still fail to see why the Mets would be ok with boras doing that when they should be able to bid against nobody since they bid 40 Mil to deal with him EXCLUSIVELY not bidding against anyone 4yr/64mil plus 40 mil posting fee, is alot easier to swallow then having to bid against the yanks, sox and whoever else at 6yrs 120 mil like people think he will/should get..

[jmonahan7]

"jmonahan, now u like steve phillips!" no i dont, i used to. AND WHY DO WE KEEP GETTING OFF TOPIC!?!?!?!?

[rugbyboy11]

One more thing, with many of the east asian players playing baseball is more about respect and love of the game than the financial benefits of it. If it was specifically about finaces I think you would see many more Japanese kids coming to play college ball, or cape cod league ball in order to help their draft status and prospect status to begin with, as opposed to being held by the club team..

[nrmax88]

"another possibility is that if no deal is worked out with boras, then maybe seibu reposts him immediately. is there anything saying that they would have to wait another year? i mean there is a lot of the offseason still remaining."

integra, i like this idea. I have no idea if it is allowed or not, and i have been wondering the same thing for a while. If Seibu owns the player, why cant they do with him what they please. It would make sense, if the sox couldnt come to an agreement, he would be reposted and the sox couldnt bid on him. I dont know how it works. This is just one reason why the posting system sucks

[sjung851]

mesa signs 1 year deal with the tigers. source: ESPN NEWS.

[nrmax88]

" If he wants out of that contract badly enough, which the BoSox provided for him, he should take a big paycut. He's in no position to demand 13-15 million per year and the Red Sox know it."

I agree with what your saying, but the thing is, even at 7 or 8 mil a season he is still makig more money then he would be in seibu

[jmonahan7]

"integra, i like this idea. I have no idea if it is allowed or not,"

We have answered this question so many times on this thread alone.

THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT OFFSEASON TO POST HIM AGAIN!

[foolintherain555]

if anyone is interested in possibly joining a salary based keeper league fantasy Baseball league email me at
trevorkuss@gmail.com

we've got a couple openings right now and if you're found to be qualified it's first come first served

[kevybo1]

send me a copied link of the league foolintherain555

[kevybo1]

Since the major leagues are allowed to pay for negotiating rights in the jappenese league is that league allowed to do that for the major leagues?

[beeniez]

They can't/won't repost him this year. Because: What happens if Boston posts 51.1 million wins the bid again? They'll be right back in the same situation so it'll be pointless.

Besides, teams know how much he's asking for now so his posting fee will probably be reduced drastically - not good news for Seibu who want that 51.1 million.

Anyone know how Boston came up with the number 51,111,111? Why not an even $50,000,000? Or Price-Is-Right it and do $50,000,001?

[nrmax88]

jmonahan, i dont remember asking you anything, or even aknowledging your presence. Thanks tho, jerk off

[foolintherain555]

http://www.thenoshows.proboards55.com/index.cgi
that's our message board, send me an email when you get a chance

[nrmax88]

beeniez, so exclude the red sox from bidding in the second post, or make it known, if the winning bidder cant get the player to sign a contract, the second highest bidder will get his negotiation rights, good faith, or bad faith. Makes more sense then what the current posting system

[beeniez]

That system still favors the small market teams, nrmax. The only real answer is to not even have this posting system. Wait until he's a free agent. It's D-Mat's fault for signing such a long contract in Japan if he knew there was a possibility of one day playing in the US.

I guarentee if there was some type of better posting system, the Royals would much rather have spent their money on D-Mat than Meche.

[allabouthephils]

I proposed this idea before and everyone laughed...

For the sake of arguement... I'll post it again...

Say a Japanese major leaguer wants to opt out of his contract and play for an American baseball team...

First, you gather all the teams that want his negotiating rights and they all pay the same posting fee for a "lottery"... Say 2MM.... Then you put all the teams into a hat and make it into a lottery... Take the winner of the lottery and they gain negotiating rights... If they can't come to an agreement, then you go to who ever came in second... And so on and so forth... All the " posting fees" or entrys into the lottery go to the team that still has the player under contract....

Sounds good to be... theres parity and it's fair... The team losing the player gets paid if he's good because the better the player the more interest he will draw from the US teams... hence more posting fees... meaning more money for the Japanese team....

[nrmax88]

That actually does sound fair. Something like the NBA lottery, except with an even amount of chances for each team. It really would be the only fair way. This probably will never happen

[allabouthephils]

Of course.... This would have been the way they did it from the start if it were in the NFL... They like parity... But, in a league without a salary cap and without a limit to spending in any way... The rich always get richer...

[kevybo1]

Hey foolintherain555 where do i have to go in order to join the leagu? and is a an actual draft?

[desturbd1]

Sounds fair...but what happens if the player decides, "I can get the most money from X team, I'm not going to sign with anyone else?" Or maybe he says, "The Royals suck, no fricken way I'm going there. Next," and simply continues to fail to come to an agreement? My guess is you'd probably see the same thing happen that already goes on right now; the big market teams are the more famous, well-known clubs, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a Japanese player keep refusing until one of the bigger names comes up in the lottery.

[beeniez]

I don't like a salary cap. The current luxury tax seems like a good idea. Perhaps lower and more expensive. What is it currently at? 100 mil a year?

[chrishickman]

The 51,111,111 figure in dollars makes it 1 billion yen.

[allabouthephils]

The 51,111,111 figure in dollars makes it 1 billion yen.

Is that today or tomorrow???

I lived over there for 2 years... The exchange rate changes every hour let alone every day... Plus, it's different if you are exchanging from yen to dollars or dollars to yen... it's all relative but completely off topic ...

[thefurbster33]

It's not 1 billion yen, its actually almost 6 billion, 5.9billion as of right now

[foolintherain555]

Kevybo send me an email at trevorkuss@gmail.com and I'll send you a link and we can talk about it

[butters]

no matter how they change the posting process some team will be unhappy with it

[walkoffblast]

I really hope people realize a lot of posters on here have no idea what they are talking about.

"Hideki Matsui didn't have any MLB service time - neither did Jose Contreras. That didn't undermine their value as free agents."

Yeahh...no. Matsui signed a 7 mil a year deal when he first came over, Contreras an 8. Neither was compensated as highly as they would have been if it was a guaranteed their talents would translate to MLB. Interesting enough those numbers are close to what the Red Sox are offering Matsuzaka. They are not being unfair.

Also, anyone who thinks the Red Sox will just sit by, and watch Boras buy Matsuzaka's free agency, are crazy. There will be lots of litigation, and the system may get fixed, but by the time it happens Boras will be the only one to benefit from it.

Matsuzaka might be posted again after this year but he would have no reason to accept a contract. He would just wait a little bit and become a free agent and Seibu would get nothing.

Boras and Boston can try all the tricks they want. Both sides are posturing and there will be a deal. Boras would lose a lot if this deal fell through. He may be willing to gamble that the benefits of challenging the system would pay off down the round but I am not sure I buy that. He would lose too much face in Japan. The gamble is not worth his percentage of one or two extra million a year.

One conspiracy theory. BOras delays negotiations to keep Red Sox from being able to administer a physical (another policy that seriosuly needs to be examined in baseball). Maybe there are signs of damage on Matsuzaka that Boras does not want them to find out about if they prefer to commit to a long term deal.

[jmonahan7]

Hey, Jondogg what happened to that deal that was supposed to be announced today?

[melyrules]

jmonahan, johndog is gone. He left to head off to new zealend to avoid the dispare of facing everyone after he told everyone he wasent a liar and he had a good freind in maine who reported d-mat got signed. I WISH that was real.

[jmonahan7]

I really hope they sign him. I'll jump off the green monster if they don't

[melyrules]

uhhhh,jmonahan, i DONT want d-mat to sign. I'm a die hard yankee fan. By "I WISH that was real", i ment that johndog went to new zealend, not that d-mat signed. Sorry.

[melyrules]

the green monster ois 35 feet tall, it will hurt like HELL.

[melyrules]

ois means over, sorry again.

[jmonahan7]

i know and i was kidding anyways. But i really hope they sign him.

[melyrules]

i dont monahan(if i may call you that), thing s dont look to good. And boris sucks!

[melyrules]

i ment "i dont NO monahan"

[jmonahan7]

You may call me that. And doesn't Boras have a press conference for later tonight?

[melyrules]

wat is he gunna say, how about SORRY!!

[melyrules]

that confrense better not be in boston or todays boras's last day alive

[melyrules]

that confrense better not be in boston or todays boras's last day alive

[jmonahan7]

Its in California according to the boston herald's website

[melyrules]

you now monahan, i'm startin to think the only reason the sox bid so much and tryed so hard is to block the yankees.

[jmonahan7]

I'm not. You're talking like its already Thursday but its only Monday. We just need to wait for the results. Which I hope go in favor of the Red Sox.

[melyrules]

well it would need to be late tonight or tommorow because d-mat has to go for a phsical

[jmonahan7]

I pointed that out earlier but someone above said that maybe Boras is extending the negotiations to keep them from having him take a physical which may be far fetched but is also feasible.