Poison Pill?????????????????

[NJFINSFAN1]

Rumors stated on ESPN radio today are stating that just maybe the Red Sox's posted that much money only to keep him from the Yankees and have no thought of really trying to sign him.

Now I don't know if its true, but its worth talking about. He cannot play in the Majors this year if the Red Sox's don't sign him. I believe if this happens he plays out the last year of his contract in Japan and then becomes a free-agent (Please correct me if I'm wrong).

But either way, he is kept away from the yanks. Now the Mets would have won the rights, but the Red Sox's have no way of knowing this.

Again, not saying its true, but its an interesting theory.

 

[finswin56]

At $51 million, I wouldn't be surprised at all.
The next question would be how would this affect future deals between Boston and Japanese clubs?

 

[NJFINSFAN1]

At $51 million, I wouldn't be surprised at all.
The next question would be how would this affect future deals between Boston and Japanese clubs?

They brought that up, but they also said that Boris would get much the blame because of his history of looking for big bucks and the Red Sox's can always say, we tried, but they were asking for the world!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Interesting theory and if true I'd be pissed as a baseball fan and Red Sox fan because that's not right.

I really don't think the Sox would throw that much money out there just to let him go back to Japan because:

A.) He'll be back next year and any team could have him.

B.) The Sox would never have another shot to sign him because there will probably be bad blood.

C.) The Sox would get a bad rep in Japan and other players would be shy about coming over to play for the Sox.

I'm sure we're going to hear tons of rumors and theories until December 15th, the last day they have to sign him. But I really don't think the Sox would just throw all that money just to block him from going to the Yankees. IF they did I'll be the first person on the boards bitching about it because it ruins the game.

Something else to note: Boras and the Sox have gotten along quite well in the past (other than the Damon situation). The Sox and Boras have worked on the V-tek deal, Hansen deal, Alex Cora deal this off season just to name a few recent ones. Plus rumors are that the Sox and Boras are working on a deal for Drew right now.

 

[finswin56]

Just the possibility that this could happen shows the obvious flaw in this "arrangement". I think it would be a good idea if the top bidder doesn't work out a deal, then the next bidder should be given a shot and so on. The Japanese club could always decline the other offers, but it would at least prevent such a block.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Just the possibility that this could happen shows the obvious flaw in this "arrangement". I think it would be a good idea if the top bidder doesn't work out a deal, then the next bidder should be given a shot and so on. The Japanese club could always decline the other offers, but it would at least prevent such a block.

I agree. Or the fairest way would be that the kid just goes into the draft.

 

[finswin56]

I agree. Or the fairest way would be that the kid just goes into the draft.

That would be pretty tough while he's under contract though.

 

[Ray Finkle]

That would be pretty tough while he's under contract though.

Yeah, he'd obviously have to be a FA in Japan to enter the draft.

 

[phunwin]

Theo Epstein's not that crazy. The Red Sox already had a poor reputation from stepping in on a deal that had been worked out to send Kevin Millar to the Japanese League back in 2003. If they did this, they would be absolutely blackballed over there.

Edit: Oh yeah, and Scott Boras would steer clients away from the Red Sox for the rest of his career as an agent.

The kid's a bona fide #1 starter and he's going to be huge for the Red Sox. Anyone who seriously believes they did this for any other reason is overthinking this.

 

[NJFINSFAN1]

interesting twist in a Jon Heyman story.

Say D-Day comes and Boras and Boston don't have a deal. Boras could try offering Seibu some portion of the $51.1 million for Matsuzaka's free agency, then shop him to all 30 teams. And considering the feeding frenzy for Matsuzaka (the Mets also made a bold bid, submitting 39 million and change, according to a person in the know), it wouldn't be a surprise if he could swing a $100 million-plus deal as a free agent.
Whatever happens, as it stands the system isn't fair to the player. The Lions paid Matsuzaka only $2.6 million last season and now stand to make 25 times that figure should Boston and Boras work it out. In eight years pitching for Seibu, Matsuzaka hasn't even been paid half the winning bid.