marklmw

yes it is tax deductible like any other expense to operations.

If I say that I read somewhere that the Giants are backing out of the Tanaka sweepstakes then I read it somewhere ... I am not making it up ... anyway it does not mean a dam thing. Someone reports that the Giants are no longer looking at Tanaka is meaningless. What is meaningful are the reports that claim that Boston ownership is interested. Some fans are concerned about the posting fee and I tell them not to be. I know a little about business but not as much as John Henry and his tax advisers ... to be sure he has some really good ones that he pays $1,000 per hour. You do not buy a newspaper today if you are not looking for a corporate tax deduction. I would question that purchase way before I would question a 60M one time tax deductible posting fee.

I would make that deal if the Sox were to acquire Tanaka. If not they need to hold onto Buchholz. I am doubtful that Colorado would make that deal with Buchholz health issues.

I wonder what conditions are put into today's contract ... no dirt bike riding, no snowmobiling, no skiing, no sky diving, no motor cycle racing and no pitching in WBC

Thank you 700. It is all about the championships. In fact many here defend trading Hanley because we won a championship with Beckett and Lowell.

Whats going on with you UN? The Giants have been rumored to back out from the Tanaka Sweepstakes. You know my point about Tanaka ... rules have been changed where clubs are being forced to spend their revenue sharing proceeds in certain ways but none are forced to put up a posting fee to acquire an international star pitcher. You know very well that out of the 30 teams in MLB there are 10 haves and 20 have nots. There are also clubs who have very large nuts already ... like the Dodgers. My point about the Red Sox making moves with the Yankees in mind is valid. I am sure that the Yankees do the same when they can and when it helps their club. You are treating Tanaka like a college arm, or a kid in AA. I do not get it ... have you read anything about him. We would not be discussing him right now if he was not legit. The scouts would have dismissed him by now. Dice K would have been a hell of a MLB player if he learned how to pitch to contact instead of walking hitters and running 3-2 counts on every other batter. Tanaka is said to have one of the more outstanding splitters ... when I hear that I think Koji and Mariano. Stop with the talk that he is not any good because he has yet to throw a pitch in the American League ... that is plain silly. That is similar to saying that Bryce Harper will not project to be a success or an Evan Longoria or an Xander Bogaerts for that matter.

My point is that if the owners want to pay the posting fee they will. They play on a different playing field than most anyone and even most MLB franchises. Did it really bother you that they posted 50M for Dice K ... does it keep you up at night today. My point is that if it is ownerships goal is to stay below the Luxury Cap then yes we as fans can discuss who we should sign and not sign based on this premiss. That is why I am saying not to be concerned with the posting fee. If the Yankees are not concerned and perhaps the Dodgers or Rangers then why should we be. Do you think that the typical Yankee fan is worried about a posting fee?

Owning the newspaper is just a big corporate tax deduction.

If you can replace Dempster with Workman, dump the higher salary and perhaps pick up a prospect ... sounds attractive to me.

There will not be that many clubs after Tanaka due to the posting fee. Be happy that our ownership is smart with deep pockets. And yes you can do things based on what the Yankees do ... it has not been all that long ago since the Teixeira debacle or the signing of Damon? You do realize that the Red Sox traded away the greatest baseball player of all time to the Yankees ... the curse of the Bambino ... have you heard of that? Come on man!!! We play the Yankees 19 games every season ... they are enemy number 1. We finally have an ownership team that can compete with the evil empire. Sit back and enjoy it.

Just thought I would defend the 'Todays Flavor' comment. MVP

I was simply saying that making a QO to Napoli increases his Guaranteed Pay from 5M to 14.1M. Assuming that Napoli accepts the offer and plays the same number of games as in 2013 his pay raise is only 1.1M. I had also said that Napoli might be facing a series of shorter even 1 year contracts that are incentive laden and very similar to his 2013 contract. I think the Sox offered him the QO and just might be fine with him signing with another team and picking up a compensation pick. Maybe they will come up with multi-year deal but again I think that any deal they do will be incentive based. He said that he wants to come back to Boston ... statements like that may hurt or help him ... I have no idea. My main point with Napoli is that he gave Boston the numbers that Boston expected him to give them when they offered him 39/3. No other team offered Napoli a 39/3 last year when Napoli was a year younger. Now some pundits on here are calling for Boston to return to a 39/3 and even 4 years was mentioned. I do not get it.

Thanks ... I was wondering how accurate the numbers are at espn.

VJC ... you and I think alike on the Sox. I was a big fan of Ellsbury but I have listened to the many arguments made on here and since then my enthusiasm for re-signing Jacoby has lessened considerably. I think that JBJ could come in and play CF and bat at the back of the lineup. I would like to have Vic lead off and Dustin move to the 2 spot ... he hits to right as good as any player and Vic should have no trouble going first to third. I hope to see Ortiz, Bogaerts, or Nava batting in the 3 hole. If we do not re-sign Ellsbury I think it makes acquiring Tanaka all the more important both short and long term. Long term in baseball is 3+ years out.

Where did you find this information? who pitches 250 innings?

Who is he? From espn roster listing it has Peavy at 16M plus and Dempster at 14M ... either way they are both a little pricey for the 4th, 5th or 6th SP.

Good one. Yes I like Ellsbury but within reason and depending on what other plans that management has. JBJ is a fine replacement. Yes I like Nava ... especially against right handed pitchers with .320 average. Yes I like Abreu ... only time will tell if I am right. I have always liked Tanaka and for good reason. The Sox do have 5-6 pitchers but only 2 that I will count on for next season. Lester will have a huge year which lowers our chances of re-signing him based on our teams latest fiscal strategies (again who knows) Lackey should be solid next season as well. Buchholz is a huge question mark. Obtaining Tanaka without giving up any top prospects is my flavor right now. You are correct sir.

UN ... as with you or any other fan on this site it is all about opinion. If you take anything that I say as fact then you are a fool. We know nothing compared to management who make the ultimate decisions. Do you really think that Tanaka is rumored to be going to Texas or New York because he sucks. Get a grip man.

For prospects and salary dump. I believe Peavy is due 17M in 2014 and as you say he is a number 2 (not sure I agree with that) and teams are looking for # 2's. Many ownerships are not willing to part with the posting fee for Tanaka. After the fee is paid the Sox will most likely be able to sign Tanaka for less than what either Dempster or Peavy will be earning next season. Do you realize that the Sox will be paying Peavy and Dempster around 30M next season for the pair. Tanaka is younger and better than either one and if the Sox do get to the post season next year I would rather have the upside of Tanaka then counting on either of the two.

I hope that the Sox go after Tanaka just like I wanted them to go after Abreu. I do believe that the ChiSox got a very good deal ... they invested nada in Abreu until the actual contract and gave up zero prospects as well. What is the average cost to draft a player, sign him and have him make it to the big's taken into consideration all the players that do not make it. I would love to see the following rotation next year. 1. Lester 2. Buchholz 3. Tanaka 4. Lackey 5. Doubront Deal Dempster and Peavy for prospects and salary dump. Let the lads on the farm, Workman, Webster, Owens fill in as needed. Gives the youngsters more opportunity to develop against big league hitters.

First of all you need to take the posting fee out of your head. OK? The owners have soccer clubs, NASCAR teams, Boston Red Sox, NESN. The Red Sox are a play thing for them, the players just chess pieces that they get to move around the board. When you take out the posting fee Tanaka will cost less then Dempster ... Enjoy the fact that Boston finally has an ownership team that is smart and loaded. They would not have traded away Babe Ruth.

Both of you misinterpreted what I said. I said that if Napoli gets injured he makes 14.1m vs. the 5m guaranteed in 2013. That is a difference of 9.1m. The reason why you make the QO is to obtain a high draft pic. Henry Owens might be the next farm hand to crack the Sox starting rotation and he was a compensation pick. Boston might be smart to pocket this years WS Championship and just go about as they are rebuilding. Bogaerts and JBJ just might have magical seasons alla Lynn and Rice and they can still get back to the post season sans Ellsbury, Drew, and Salty.

I came upon an article where baseball people were predicting where the free agents were heading. The vast majority had Ellsbury with the Cubs and Tanaka with Texas.

That would be nice but the Yankees are still the Yankees ... the club with the most championships. I do think that if Boston has the highest bid he probably would not say no.

I commend you on the a very accurate breakdown. Tanaka might just become a number 1 and it will help management a lot when dealing with an extension for Lester. I have a feeling that Henry Owens will be the next quality SP to come from the farm.