Epstein masterful in Matsuzaka signing

[WilliamPitt]

Epstein masterful in Matsuzaka signing
Deal hardly outrageous considering free agent market

OPINION
By Tony DeMarco
NBCSports.com contributor
Updated: 1:28 a.m. ET Dec 14, 2006

Boston Red Sox officials went all the way across the country to bring back their man from halfway around the world. And now that they have succeeded in signing Japanese pitching sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka, their effort must be considered bold, innovative and potentially monumental on a couple of fronts.

The posturing drama finally ended on Wednesday, when top Sox officials flew Matsuzaka back to Boston after a visit to the Orange County offices of agent Scott Boras, with only a physical exam between them and a six-year deal worth a reported $52 million plus incentives that could push the value to $60 million.

Theo Epstein and Co. haven’t done much right since their World Series title two Octobers ago, but an impending sign on the dotted line by the best pitcher not in the major leagues should reverse that trend. This is a risk worth taking; plausible in its own unique set of circumstances.

First, every assessment of the market for free-agent starting pitchers put the 26-year-old right-hander in the elite echelon with Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt in terms of talent. Zito isn’t a good fit at Fenway Park, and Schmidt is eight years older than Matsuzaka and much more of a health risk. Throw in other contracts being handed out — $55 million over five years for Gil Meche, $47 million over three years for Schmidt, $40 million over four years for Ted Lilly — and the Matsuzaka bid/contract has become a bit more reasonable.

What the Sox gave up in the posting process, where their $51.1-million bid was the winner, they could make up on the rest of the deal. Considering the second-highest bid was reportedly $30 million or so, they coughed up an extra $20 million to win the exclusive negotiation rights. But in light of the six-year deal, that’s akin to adding only $3.5 million per year onto the tab.

More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16196911/

[rinsd]

1. I was surprised at both the length and the amount of the deal

I thought Boras would go for a 4 year deal so his guy could jump back on the market when he was 30 or 31. I also thought this would be $12M-$15M a year easy especially in light of recent signings.

[nickgutierrez]

2. I watched him in the World... whatever it was called.

Masterful.

This guy is going to have a year or two, maybe three where he's the best pitcher in baseball, regardless of what that guy out in Minnesota might have to say about it. And look, a lot has been made of the posting fee, and yeah, that's more than half the teams in the league pay for payroll. But Boston is going to make this money back in Japanese merchandise sales, in TV agreements, and they gain a share of the Japanese market and maybe cut into the Yankees' share a bit. This is, in truth, a pretty sweet deal for the Sox, and that $51m... well, that's a huge initial investment, but that's what it is.

As for his line, I'm gonna say he gives them about 190 innings or so, with an ERA just below 4 for the first season, and somewhere around 7.5 K/9, which will be good enough for a handful of Cy Young votes.

[GalleryGod]

3. Not too hard to be a "drunken Sailor"

Welcome to the Evil Empire of the Yankees...:wtf:

Nice payroll, Boys!:rofl: