Matsuzaka Bid To Top $30MM?

We had heard a lot of $20MMish estimates for the winning bid to negotiate with Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka.

However, Joel Sherman’s article yesterday quotes an NL GM who sets the over-under at $33MM.  Bob Bavasi mentioned $28MM as the highest figure he had heard when I talked to him earlier this month.  With more than ten teams looking to make competitive bids, $30MM+ is becoming more of a reality.

Sherman speculates that Scott Boras could ask for five years and $75MM on top of that posting fee.  Now we’re talking a total of $21MM a season for the guy. 

The more you think about it, 5/75 is not an unreasonable amount for Boras to demand.  Boras has shown in the past with top draft picks that he is able to gain leverage in a situation where his client seemingly has none.  Why shouldn’t Matsuzaka be paid like Roy Oswalt?  Matsuzaka is a full three years younger.

These kinds of demands are typically only met by the Yankees.  In A-Rod, Jeter, and Giambi, the Yanks have three $20MM players for 2007.  Randy Johnson gets $16MM and Bobby Abreu $15MM. 

My money is officially placed on the Yankees getting Matsuzaka.  Other teams just won’t mess with that kind of payout and risk.