Matsuaka chooses Boras as agent

[Astro]

Boras to represent Japanese pitching star Matsuzaka
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka selected Scott Boras to represent him in negotiations with major league teams, the agent said Tuesday.

Matsuzaka's rights are expected to be "posted" by the Seibu Lions next month, meaning that all 30 Major League teams can bid on the 26-year-old right-hander. The team with the highest bid gains the right to attempt to sign the pitcher.

Matsuzaka was 17-5 with a 2.13 ERA and 200 strikeouts this year, and he impressed many major league scouts last March during the World Baseball Classic, where he was selected MVP as Japan won the title.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2637549&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

Oh my... not only do teams have to bid just to talk to him about signing, then they have to put up with Scott Boras... This could be a GM's worst nightmare... Finally got to 2000 posts aswell :D

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Oh boy, I smell a big lucrative contract for him...

Now wonder he gets Boras, he's the best at doing what he does: Making teams overpay for certain "star" players.
(e.g Jeff Weaver 1 yr 9 million...)

[Mattingly]

Is it true of the rumors that his team, the Seibu Lions, also has Boras as an agent? And that opening bids for the right to negotiate with him *BEGIN* at $30m? Or is this just a wild dream (nightmare?) of mine? :D

Anyway, here's career stats (1999-2006) on the RHP, who just turned 26 on Sep 13th:

http://www.japaneseballplayers.com/en/player.php?id=matsuzaka

Over the past 4 years, he's kept a sub-3.00 ERA, had 200+ strikeouts 3 of 4 times, but has only hit 200 IP once.

[ChrisLDuncan]

SOunds like a good move to me...Boras is the man

[AutographCollector]

Yay. What MLB needs; another high priced player. :mad:

[Brooklyn]

......but has only hit 200 IP once.

The innings are not a surpise as the Japanese season is quite a bit shorter. It willbe intersting to see if he fades late season with the extra innings.

[Dravecky43]

Boras$ is his agent? Oh, goody. You know, I was kinda hoping the Giants would have at least a shot at him. But I suppose it wasn't meant to be. Oh, and if I hang on to him in my fantasy league (yes, I drafted him THIS year so no one else could get him) he will cost me a pretty penny.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Is it true of the rumors that his team, the Seibu Lions, also has Boras as an agent? And that opening bids for the right to negotiate with him *BEGIN* at $30m? Or is this just a wild dream (nightmare?) of mine? :D

Anyway, here's career stats (1999-2006) on the RHP, who just turned 26 on Sep 13th:

http://www.japaneseballplayers.com/en/player.php?id=matsuzaka

Over the past 4 years, he's kept a sub-3.00 ERA, had 200+ strikeouts 3 of 4 times, but has only hit 200 IP once.

It sounds like he'd be a number 2 or 3 starter over here. Especially on the Yankees, where he is obviously going to go.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Looks like Cashman and the Boss will have to deal with Boras three times this year (Sheffield, Zito, and Matsuaka)

[Mattingly]

It sounds like he'd be a number 2 or 3 starter over here. Especially on the Yankees, where he is obviously going to go.
The $30m posting thing may be extremely prohibitive. Sounds like the astronomical amount that the NBA's Yao Ming was demanded for by the Chinese team when it was obvious that he was going to the NBA. The Chinese team figured they may as well make some cool $$$ for the whole thing.

If it whittles itself down to $20m or less, perhaps Big Stein may splurge. He'd faulted himself for not going after Ichiro Suzuki (I'm guessing he hasn't seen my comments on Suzuki). Still, the Yanks have tons of money in luxe tax to pay.

If he does indeed become worthy, after having gotten accustomed to MLB style of play, it may be a good thing. He's still pretty young. If the deal is in the $21m/3 yr range that Hideki Matsui signed for, then that'll be $41m total. If it's a $30m final bid on the posting and he demands $30m for 3 seasons, that'll be $60m. Only a rich (and very drunk) fool would pay that amount.

How many games do they play in Japan? Was he also in the DH or non-DH league over there?

[Mattingly]

The innings are not a surpise as the Japanese season is quite a bit shorter. It willbe intersting to see if he fades late season with the extra innings.
Interesting point. Since the Japanese players being brought here were all pitchers prior to Ichiro Suzuki, I figured that by now, some of them have figured out how to adapt to the longer season.

If a team gets him, perhaps 6-inning games in his first year would be the norm.

Oh, and someone please tell Sweet Lou (the Cubs manager, not the BBF forumer) that a rook is a rook, whether they are on his team or the pinstripes (referencing Piniella's complaint when Matsui was up for ROY, even then he'd had two prior ROY winniners, both also from Japan).

[SamtheBravesFan]

How many games do they play in Japan? Was he also in the DH or non-DH league over there?

They play 146 games and Matsuzaka played for the Seibu Lions in the Pacific League, which does use the DH.

[Mattingly]

They play 146 games and Matsuzaka played for the Seibu Lions in the Pacific League, which does use the DH.
I noticed in the link that he'd only averaged about 25 starts a season. If he goes through some kind of conditioning, perhaps he'll last until the end. It's like they'd end their season the 2nd week of September, based on a 146-game season.

Thanks for the info on the Pacific League and the DH.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I noticed in the link that he'd only averaged about 25 starts a season. If he goes through some kind of conditioning, perhaps he'll last until the end. It's like they'd end their season the 2nd week of September, based on a 146-game season.

Thanks for the info on the Pacific League and the DH.

No problem. :) JapanBaseballDaily.com is a GREAT site. :D

[pesky6]

Is it true of the rumors that his team, the Seibu Lions, also has Boras as an agent? And that opening bids for the right to negotiate with him *BEGIN* at $30m? Or is this just a wild dream (nightmare?) of mine? :D

Don't worry, Mattingly, that certainly doesn't price out the Yankees ;)

[pesky6]

SOunds like a good move to me...Boras is the man

Bora$ is a pimp, selling his whores to whoever will pay the most for them. You only like him because your team can afford his ridiculous demands.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Bora$ is a pimp, selling his whores to whoever will pay the most for them. You only like him because your team can afford his ridiculous demands.

I'm always pro-labor in anything, I say make as much money as you can. That's why I like him, also Larry Luchino can afford what the Boss pays too...not my fault that The Boss is the best owner in sports.

[Williamsburg2599]

Is it true of the rumors that his team, the Seibu Lions, also has Boras as an agent? And that opening bids for the right to negotiate with him *BEGIN* at $30m? Or is this just a wild dream (nightmare?) of mine? :D


If your still a yankees fan, It's a dream:laugh. My Bet is he's in Pinstripes by New Years. Which means I better start not liking him...now.:)

[pesky6]

I'm always pro-labor in anything, I say make as much money as you can. That's why I like him, also Larry Luchino can afford what the Boss pays too...not my fault that The Boss is the best owner in sports.

You're right, it's not your fault that the "bo$$" has the best safety net in sports. Unless you don't consider the best TV contract and metro fanbase of millions to be a safety net.

[W_Marone]

I love how someone will shell out millions of dollars and give him a huge contract before he's even pitched one inning in the Majors. I LOVE IT.:crazy

[jalbright]

They play 146 games and Matsuzaka played for the Seibu Lions in the Pacific League, which does use the DH.

Sorry, Sam, but the Lions' record this year was 80-54-2 (they have ties in Japan) which comes to 136 games, not 146. The big worry with Matsuzaka is that he's averaged at least 138 pitches (last year, 144 this) per start for at least the past two years. A MLB manager would be pilloried for that, but it's business as usual for Japanese managers.

Used more sparingly in the majors on a per game basis, I think he'll likely last all season unless he's already damaged goods.

Jim Albright

[SamtheBravesFan]

Sorry, Sam, but the Lions' record this year was 80-54-2 (they have ties in Japan) which comes to 136 games, not 146. The big worry with Matsuzaka is that he's averaged at least 138 pitches (last year, 144 this) per start for at least the past two years. A MLB manager would be pilloried for that, but it's business as usual for Japanese managers.

Used more sparingly in the majors on a per game basis, I think he'll likely last all season unless he's already damaged goods.

Jim Albright

Whoopsie. My bad. I must have misread it or not read it too clearly. Oh well. :)

[KCGHOST]

Signing with Boras is a clear indicator this guy only wants the money. What is best for him will be a secondary matter.

[Nomtoc]

* Rick Ankiel
* Steve Avery (retired)
* Carlos Baerga
* Rocco Baldelli (former client)
* Josh Bayne (former client)
* Tim Belcher (retired)
* Sam Bloch
* Carlos Beltrán
* Adrián Beltré
* Andy Benes (retired)
* Ian Bladergroen
* Barry Bonds (former client)
* Chris Bootcheck
* Taggert Bozied
* Kevin Brown
* Bobby Brownlie
* Jay Bruce (former client)
* Miguel Cabrera (former client)
* Bill Caudill (retired)
* Bruce Chen
* Ed Caesar
* Chris Coghlan
* Anthony Cozzette
* Joe Crede
* Colin Curtis
* Gary Daley
* Johnny Damon
* John Danks
* Jimmy Delgado
* Jason Donald
* Darren Dreifort
* J.D. Drew
* Stephen Drew
* Alex Fernandez (retired)
* Prince Fielder
* Eric Gagné
* Alex Gordon
* Tyler Greene
* Jeremy Guthrie
* Mark Hamilton
* Craig Hansen
* Robert Harper
* Matt Harrington
* Keith Hernandez (retired)
* Ramón Hernández (former client)
* Jose Hernandez
* Bobby Hill
* Luke Hochevar
* Matt Holliday
* Frank Hullings
* Andruw Jones
* Scott Kazmir
* Ian Kennedy
* Sun-Woo Kim
* Danny Kolb
* Matt LaPorta
* Jeff Larish
* Travis Lee
* Kyle Lohse
* Felipe Lopez
* Rodrigo Lopez
* Derek Lowe
* Matt Lungariello
* Ryne Malone
* Greg Maddux
* Daisuke Matsuzaka
* Cameron Maybin
* Seth McClung
* Mark McCormick
* Ben McDonald (retired)
* Andrew Miller
* Kevin Millwood
* Zach Miner
* Xavier Nady
* Robb Nen (retired)
* David Newhan
* Magglio Ordóñez
* Chan Ho Park
* Corey Patterson
* Eric Patterson
* John Patterson
* Mark Pawelek
* Mike Pelfrey
* Carlos Pena
* Oliver Pérez
* Guillermo Quiroz
* Anthony Reyes
* Alex Rodriguez
* Iván Rodríguez
* Kenny Rogers
* José Rosado
* Rey Sanchez
* Max Scherzer
* Scott Schoeneweis
* Bobby Seay
* Gary Sheffield (former client)
* Kurt Stillwell (retired)
* Dennis Tankersley
* Julian Tavarez
* Willy Taveras
* Brien Taylor (retired)
* Taylor Teagarden
* Mark Teixeira
* Chin-hui Tsao
* Jason Varitek
* Ron Villone
* Jarrod Washburn
* Jeff Weaver
* Jered Weaver
* Matt White
* Brad Wilkerson
* Bernie Williams
* Carlos Zambrano until 1/06
* Barry Zito

[mac195]

Sorry, Sam, but the Lions' record this year was 80-54-2 (they have ties in Japan) which comes to 136 games, not 146. The big worry with Matsuzaka is that he's averaged at least 138 pitches (last year, 144 this) per start for at least the past two years. A MLB manager would be pilloried for that, but it's business as usual for Japanese managers.

Used more sparingly in the majors on a per game basis, I think he'll likely last all season unless he's already damaged goods.

Jim Albright

Well, he sure hasn't looked like damaged goods this past year, first leading Japan to the WBC title, then dominating the Pacific League all season. He's looked like a guy who could easily jump into MLB and be an all-star. But who knows...