Daisuke Matsuzaka posted by Seibu Lions

[example1]

Here's a very interesting article about Matsuzaka, including a portions of a discussion with a White Sox scout about how scouts see Matsuzaka. He's about as I thought he was, above average in every category but not spectacular in any area. There is nothing wrong with that.

 

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20061022jg.html

 

I like that they call him cocky. Flashes of Pedro dance through my head, especially the part that talks about his brushbacks and beanballs. Good stuff.

[TPetey]

Here's a very interesting article about Matsuzaka, including a portions of a discussion with a White Sox scout about how scouts see Matsuzaka. He's about as I thought he was, above average in every category but not spectacular in any area. There is nothing wrong with that.

 

 

I like that they call him cocky. Flashes of Pedro dance through my head, especially the part that talks about his brushbacks and beanballs. Good stuff.

 

Good article, and I was surprised to see the (informed?) speculation that DM is seeking only a 3-yr/$30 mill deal -- I'd have thought Boras would set his sights higher: longer deal, at least $12 mill per.

 

Let me correct a couple of factual errors from earlier posts:

 

1) Matsuzaka hasn't actually been posted yet; Seibu has merely confirmed everyone's speculation and announced that they've agreed to post him sometime during the offseason. The earliest date he can be officially posted is November 1st. Once he's posted, the process moves quickly. Teams will have only 72 hours to submit their blind bids to Bud Selig, and after that 72 hours expires, Seibu will have 4 days to accept or reject the bid. We haven't reached that point yet.

 

2) The posting fee is not paid if the posted player fails to sign. Seibu gets the money only if a) Seibu accepts the posting bid, and Matsuzaka comes to terms with the highest bidder within 30 days. If he doesn't sign within that 30-day window, no money changes hands and Matsuzaka can pitch only for Seibu next year.

 

Those who speculate that the MFYs or the Mariners have some advantage because of their established relationships in Japanese baseball don't understand the process. Only the money matters. If the Sox take the risk and make the largest bid, then they get the exclusive right to negotiate with Matsuzaka -- who, by the way, will have a strong incentive to sign because signing represents his only chance to play in the US in '07. On the other hand, the highest bidder will have an even stronger incentive -- if they can't manage to sign him, Matsuzaka will be a free agent in '08. If that happens, no team will have exclusive negotiating rights (which will allow competition to drive up the price significantly) and the entire amount will be counted in the salary calculation for the luxury tax (the posting fee is not salary, and thus has no luxury tax implications).

 

I don't have enough posts to post a link, but a good summary of the posting process can be found on the baseball-reference.com wiki under "Posting_System".

[example1]

Good article, and I was surprised to see the (informed?) speculation that DM is seeking only a 3-yr/$30 mill deal -- I'd have thought Boras would set his sights higher: longer deal, at least $12 mill per.

 

Let me correct a couple of factual errors from earlier posts:

 

1) Matsuzaka hasn't actually been posted yet; Seibu has merely confirmed everyone's speculation and announced that they've agreed to post him sometime during the offseason. The earliest date he can be officially posted is November 1st. Once he's posted, the process moves quickly. Teams will have only 72 hours to submit their blind bids to Bud Selig, and after that 72 hours expires, Seibu will have 4 days to accept or reject the bid. We haven't reached that point yet.

 

2) The posting fee is not paid if the posted player fails to sign. Seibu gets the money only if a) Seibu accepts the posting bid, and Matsuzaka comes to terms with the highest bidder within 30 days. If he doesn't sign within that 30-day window, no money changes hands and Matsuzaka can pitch only for Seibu next year.

 

Those who speculate that the MFYs or the Mariners have some advantage because of their established relationships in Japanese baseball don't understand the process. Only the money matters. If the Sox take the risk and make the largest bid, then they get the exclusive right to negotiate with Matsuzaka -- who, by the way, will have a strong incentive to sign because signing represents his only chance to play in the US in '07. On the other hand, the highest bidder will have an even stronger incentive -- if they can't manage to sign him, Matsuzaka will be a free agent in '08. If that happens, no team will have exclusive negotiating rights (which will allow competition to drive up the price significantly) and the entire amount will be counted in the salary calculation for the luxury tax (the posting fee is not salary, and thus has no luxury tax implications).

 

I don't have enough posts to post a link, but a good summary of the posting process can be found on the baseball-reference.com wiki under "Posting_System".

 

Nice post. I have been guilty of #2, as I thought I read that somewhere but I'll defer to your well rationalied explanation.