is Daisuke Matsuzaka worth $51 million just to talk to? which idiot is running the red sox?

Answer 1

I live in Japan and have watched Matsuzaka from his high school days. He is a good pitcher, but not worth $51 Million. He will do very well the first year, maybe even up to three years, but he will fade. As soon as the MLB players learn his pitches, they will hit him just as they did Nomo, and Ishii, and soon Saito.

Answer 2

Yes the Red Sox dont have a good rotation as Shilling and Wakefield are old, Beckett has a ton of questions surrounding him, Papelbon has not been tested enough as a starter and the red sox need new pitching. Barry Zito is another pitcher on the market but his fly-ball tendencies has scared away speculation (of course fenway ACTUALLY isnt that easy to hit home runs in but people think it is) and he will be another pitcher of interest. And basically what the red sox have done is paid 25 million to talk and 26 million to prevent him from going to the Yankees (they would most certainly have put up an even higher amount for a contract if they hadnt underestimated the sox). Dont get me wrong, they want his arm badly. He has excellent stuff that he has shown that he can control very well. Not only that but bringing him to the sox would actually bring some of Japan into the Red Sox fan base which the Yankees have traditionally dominated. He is the Japanese favorite right now and is supposedly more respected than Matsui was, the sale of red sox gear and broadcasting rights in Japan would probably pay for the 51 million in the several years he is with the red sox.

Answer 3

$51 million is a lot a money, but considering the revenues they will bring in from Japan, its not much at all. The Japanese people are very good supporters of their players, especially when the come to America. Basically, I think the Red Sox are looking at this as an investment. Plus, the 51 million is not counted toward the salary cap. Its no brainer as far as I'm concerned. Also, they're are not any good free agent pitchers out there with the exception of Zito, and he doesn't pitch well at all against the Yankees, so he wouldn't make much sense for the Red Sox.

Answer 4

Everyone is saying how it was a dumb move. I can only argue how wrong you all are.

1.) You get a TWENTY SIX year old pitcher. Youth to any rotation is good.
2.) You get your ace. He can be the ace for the Sox for the near future, because Schilling is getting old and I just dont see Beckett doing anything this upcoming year.
3.) You keep him from the Yankees. The Yankees need pitching more than the Sox do, so by keeping him from the Yankees you not only make yourself that much better but make them that much worse.
4.) He has proven he can perform. He was the World Baseball Classic MVP. He had an unbelievable ERA in the tournament, and he proved he has what it takes to take on Major League Players when the pressure is on.

I'm a Yankees fan, and this kid scares me to death, hopefully when hes 29 and the 3 year deal he'll get from the Sox is up he'll come to the Yankees.

Answer 5

I would have to say no. The rumors are that it will cost another approximately 12 million a year to sign him. His agent wants a 3 yer deal so he can become a free agent sooner, while the Sox are talking 4 or 5 years. I have a hard time spending a total upwards of 87 million over 3 years to sign a pitcher that has never pitched in MLB. It may turn out to be a great move by the Sox, time will tell. I just think that for that much money they could have signed 2 or 3 guys with MLB experience that are free agents now and you know what you are going to get from them.

Answer 6

What most folks are overlooking here is that when Matsuzaka signs, there will be a lot of interest back home in Japan to see how he fares. Japan is baseball-crazy and their stars who go to the US still make news.

The Red Sox know that interest in Japan = merchandising and most importantly BROADCAST RIGHTS.

Let's think worst-case scenario - they can only get him for a 3 year deal. Do you think the Red Sox will earn an extra $17m from broadcasting rights, advertising and merchandising? Before rushing to say NO WAY, consider how much broadcasting rights are really worth.

Add into this that the Red Sox become players in the far-east talent scouting - with lots of ballclubs VERY EAGER to share information about their top prospects in hopes of getting a nice chunk of cash too.

Not a bad move, despite the staggering sums.

Answer 7

A genius is running the Red Sox!! You see, he will remain in Japan, the Red Sox will get their 51 million dollars back, and the Yankees will not have a chance to get him. Not so dumb after all!!

Chow!!

Answer 8

YEAH,He'll say in Japan,And the free agent pitchers who are out there now will be signed and Blow Sox will have nothing LOL LOL
That goes to show what an ASSHOLE THEO IS!! GOOD MOVE

Answer 9

they had to take the chance to out bid the yankees. 51 mill is tons for money, but not for baseball. that money just goes to his japanese team, a selling price really. now they have to pay him. theo epstien is that idiot you refered to, and dude, he's no idiot. under the age of 30 he's looked at as one of the best gm's in baseball. he's responsible for puttin the team together that won their first world series in 80 plus years.