Matsuzaka could fall to Mets?

by Eric Simon on Dec 11, 2006 11:42 AM EST

The Boston Red Sox, who won the blind bidding for the rights to negotiate with Daisuke Matsuzaka for $51.1 million, are fast approaching the midnight Thursday deadline to get a deal squared away. The Sox are not overly optimistic that they will be able to get a deal done in time, as agent Scott Boras is apparently approaching these negotiations as if Matsuzaka were a true free agent.

Anthony at Hot Foot points out the interesting part of this tale as it pertains to the Mets, who were second in the bidding for D-Mat:

(13) The U.S. Commissioner shall have the authority to oversee the bidding procedures set forth in paragraphs (8) through (12) above to ensure that they not been undermined in any manner. Among other actions that he may deem appropriate and in the best interests of baseball, the U.S. Commissioner shall have the authority to revoke a U.S. Major League Club's exclusive negotiation rights with respect to a Japanese Player (and, subject to the Japanese Club's approval pursuant to paragraph (11) above, to award such rights to the next highest bidder, if any) and to declare null and void any contract between a Japanese Player and a U.S major League Club that the U.S. Commissioner deems was the result of conduct that was inconsistent with this Agreement or otherwise not in the best interests of professional baseball.

The portion of the MLB agreement is via SoSH, so there is plenty of credibility there. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out, and whether one Alan "Bud" Selig would be inclined to award D-Mat's negotiating rights to the Mets should the boys from Beantown be unable to come to terms with the Japanese star.

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meh.

This whole scenario is exceedingly unlikely. First of all, it seems that the commish is only empowered to hand a posted player on to the next team in line if he thinks the negotiations have been conducted in bad faith by the winning team, something that seems not to be the case at all here. Second, this whole "negotiations have stalled" thing is almost certainly just a bargaining tactic on either the part of the Sox or of Boras (or possibly both), since a deal will not get done until both sides are satisfied that their backs are to the wall. Third, we don't even know that the Mets were the second-highest bidders for Matsuzaka.

Wake me when something real happens.

by anonymous on Dec 11, 2006 2:05 PM EST reply actions

Complimacated

I think it's likely that they won't come to an agreement. The way the process is set up means one or both sides had to accept a discontinuity in the payment amounts.

The Red Sox will end up spending $X+51.1M, but Matsuzaka will receive $X.

Boras can legitimately claim that if the Sox are willing to spend $X+51.1 to acquire M.'s services, then that is his "value" and is what he should personally receive. If he's worth $151.1M (or 131.1 or 171.1) to the Sox this year, then it follows that he could go back to Japan and get a contract next year that gives him the whole sum.

From a purely economic standpoint, "sitting out" a year gets Matsuzaka 50M more dollars next year. (Well, minus the risk that he gets badly injured or craps out during the next year.) And since he's supposedly George Clooney and Joe Namath rolled into one over there, it's not really an ordeal.

I think that's why Seibu publicized that they're planning to spend the money on player salaries and stadium renovation and fan outreach. If it's not just about dollar figures, he'll be less likely to turn down free money.

by hotspur on Dec 13, 2006 12:37 AM EST up reply actions

Next Year?

then it follows that he could go back to Japan and get a contract next year that gives him the whole sum.

There are mixed reports on this, but as best I can tell Matsuzaka has only pitched four eight seasons and wouldn't become a free agent until after his tenth season, or in 2008. Having to wait two years is a much bigger deal than just one.

by Eric Simon on Dec 13, 2006 12:46 AM EST up reply actions

Darren Oliver

Appears to have signed with the Angels according to espn.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2694164&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

Sorry to see him go, he was definitely an important piece of the 2006 Mets.

by The Irresistable Force on Dec 11, 2006 7:08 PM EST reply actions

Oliver

Important piece? Yes. Likely to repeat his 2006 performance? No. Utterly replaceable? Yes.

by Eric Simon on Dec 11, 2006 7:26 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

I agree, the Mets caught lightning in a bottle with Oliver. I also think they did the same with Jose Valetin, which makes me worried about him coming back.

Endy Chavez....I'm not sure whether that was the real Endy last season. I'm sure that was the real defensive Endy, but I'm not sold that he can put up a .348 OBP and a .277 EqA again.

I declare jihad on Yadier Molina

by Greenpoint Ian on Dec 12, 2006 10:38 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

by The Irresistable Force on Dec 13, 2006 12:37 AM EST up reply actions

gyroball

is in the air to Boston with the Red Sox Owner.

John Henry, the principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, said today that Daisuke Matsuzaka and Scott Boras, his agent, boarded Henry's private plane in Southern California and were headed to Boston. While Henry would not confirm that a contract agreement was in place, the fact that Matsuzaka was on his way to Boston with Red Sox executives likely means a deal is imminent.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/14/sports/baseball/14redsox.html?hp&ex=1166072400&en=223a18e0 693e2e5f&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Pedro offers you his protection.

by pj on Dec 13, 2006 2:38 PM EST reply actions