Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Matsuzaka Update
ESPN Reports the following offers regarding Matsuzaka
Boston - $48 million over 6 years
Boras - $66 million over 6 years
That translates to Boston saying Matsuzaka is worth $16.5 million per year over 6 years and Boras saying, no, $19.5 million per year. These are both a good bit lower than what I reported earlier, no doubt showing that a deal is more possible, and that the Red Sox are idiots for not taking the $11 million a year counter offer. Barry Zito is worth $15 or $16 million in this free agent market, at a bare minimum, although I'm projecting 6 years, $120 million. It is no stretch to say that Matsuzaka would outperform Zito in the majors, particularly since Matsuzaka will be less in decline; a better comparison may be Carlos Zambrano, who hits the free agent market next year. Nonetheless, Because at age 27-32 Matsuzaka will deliver the best of his playing years, it would be foolish to say he's not worth what it would cost for Zito. Additionally, Boston jumping into the Zito hunt would only drive up the left-hander's price, which would almost certianly push that to $20 million a year or so. Boston would be foolish not to go with the $11 million a year offer; after all, for the purposes of the luxury tax, it's much cheaper. Additionally, Boras will take a lot of flack if Matsuzaka is not signed, and since he represents Zito, he can get his revenge there. So Boston will parade a rotation of Schilling, Beckett, Wakefield, Papelbon and Lester while trading off Clement. When you consider that Schilling will likely retire after this year, Boston should go ahead with it.
Boston - $48 million over 6 years
Boras - $66 million over 6 years
That translates to Boston saying Matsuzaka is worth $16.5 million per year over 6 years and Boras saying, no, $19.5 million per year. These are both a good bit lower than what I reported earlier, no doubt showing that a deal is more possible, and that the Red Sox are idiots for not taking the $11 million a year counter offer. Barry Zito is worth $15 or $16 million in this free agent market, at a bare minimum, although I'm projecting 6 years, $120 million. It is no stretch to say that Matsuzaka would outperform Zito in the majors, particularly since Matsuzaka will be less in decline; a better comparison may be Carlos Zambrano, who hits the free agent market next year. Nonetheless, Because at age 27-32 Matsuzaka will deliver the best of his playing years, it would be foolish to say he's not worth what it would cost for Zito. Additionally, Boston jumping into the Zito hunt would only drive up the left-hander's price, which would almost certianly push that to $20 million a year or so. Boston would be foolish not to go with the $11 million a year offer; after all, for the purposes of the luxury tax, it's much cheaper. Additionally, Boras will take a lot of flack if Matsuzaka is not signed, and since he represents Zito, he can get his revenge there. So Boston will parade a rotation of Schilling, Beckett, Wakefield, Papelbon and Lester while trading off Clement. When you consider that Schilling will likely retire after this year, Boston should go ahead with it.
Labels: MLB
# posted by StolenMonkey86 @ 12:14 PM 
