Daisuke Matsuzaka?

[DirtyKash]

Where do you guys think he'll end up? He's only 26 years old so his value is sky high.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was given permission by the Seibu Lions on Tuesday to pursue a career in the major leagues.
Matsuzaka hasn't officially been posted, but it's going to happen. While the Lions would certainly prefer to keep their ace, the 26-year-old is a free agent after next year and this is the only way the team can get compensation for him. Matsuzaka's posting fee could be $25 million-$30 million alone, and on top of that, the major league team that wins his rights would likely have to pay at least $10 million and maybe $15 million per year to sign him. The Yankees and Mariners are viewed as the favorites to sign him, though several others will make bids.

[Kingdom]

The dodgers.. they need to further spice up the Asian life.

[TheLeiterSide]

Yankees will pay a billion dollars for him :P

Though I'd like to see the Mets become a player in the Matsuzaka sweepstakes. IIRC, he's younger than Zito. Not sure 100% on that.

[Saber]

Depends. Who's willing to front 20 a year?

[Fishercat]

Yankees.

Really, unless some team gets absurdly desperate, I can't see anyone else will to post 25 mil and then give Matsu a big contract. Well, if the Sox are desperate enough, maybe the Angels or Mets, but the Yanks have the be the favorite.

[realmofotalk]

Though I'd like to see the Mets become a player in the Matsuzaka sweepstakes. IIRC, he's younger than Zito. Not sure 100% on that.

This Japanese pitcher would follow up with the Mets' tradition of great Asian players such as Masato Yoshii, Hideo Nomo, Tsuyoshi Shinjo, Kazuo Matsui, Jae Seo, and Kaz Ishii.

[Rufio181]

The Padres

[DirtyKash]

Let the bidding begin for Matsuzaka

By Mike Berardino - SportingNews

His dominant performance as the MVP of the World Baseball Classic started the dreaming and the drooling.

Soon bidding will commence for Daisuke Matsuzaka, who might be the best Japanese pitching import yet.

Better than Hideo Nomo. Better than Kazuhiro Sasaki. And most certainly better than Hideki Irabu.

The Seibu Lions, the only employer Matsuzaka has known, have announced they will make him available for "posting" despite the year left on his contract. As many as a dozen North American major league teams will submit sealed bids for the right to negotiate with the hard-throwing righthander, and the posting price likely will soar past the $13.1 million the Mariners paid six years ago to talk with Ichiro Suzuki.

The early line has it higher than $20 million, especially if George Steinbrenner decides the Yankees must have Matsuzaka, as many believe he will.

"What you saw in the WBC was only fitting," says former Japanese League MVP Warren Cromartie, who has met Matsuzaka several times. "He's going to throw strikes. He's not afraid. He's a bulldog. And he's wanted to come over here for a long time."

Matsuzaka, 26, finished the 2006 regular season 17-5 with a 2.13 ERA. In 186 1/3 innings, he piled up 200 strikeouts against just 34 walks and allowed a .206 batting average.

He isn't an overpowering physical specimen at 6-0, 190, but he has a large arsenal of pitches that includes some recent experimentation with a screwball. His fastball has been clocked as high as 96 mph, and he has shown the ability to throw his forkball, changeup and breaking ball in any count.

"He's ready," says a team official with a significant scouting history in Japan. "The exposure on the national stage was great for him."

The chance to impress North American clubs on their home soil is an advantage Matsuzaka's predecessors didn't have. He also is expected to pitch against the Major League Baseball All-Star team that will travel to Japan in November, which will only heighten the frenzy.

Besides the Yankees, the Mets, Red Sox, Mariners, Dodgers, Padres, Rangers, Cardinals, Cubs and Angels figure to enter the bidding.

Once negotiating rights are obtained, it could take $10 million or more per year for at least four seasons to lure Matsuzaka. He hired Scott Boras as his agent, so there won't be any discounts.

Though some teams will be scared off by the posting price and others by Boras, there also is considerable chatter about the wear and tear on Matsuzaka's arm. According to the team official, Matsuzaka averaged 138 pitches in his 25 starts (14 complete games) this season.

That was down from the 144 pitches he averaged in 2005.

His starts, though, regularly came with five and even six days of rest because of additional off-days in the Japanese League schedule.

A groin injury sidelined Matsuzaka for part of this season, and he has had minor arm issues in the past. But when it comes to his ability to thrive at the sport's highest level, there is little doubt about him.

"He knows how to pitch," the team official says. "He knows how to make the fastball do things, and he can dial it up when he needs to."

The official describes him as "more of a free spirit than some of the guys there" but says he is "pretty much a warrior" and that makeup should not be an issue.

"I thought he was bored and looking for a bigger challenge," he says.

That challenge is coming soon.

[DirtyKash]

One the of biggest baseball stories outside the World Series is where Japanese League free agent Daisuke Matsuzaka will end up when bids are posted for his services. He's been scouted by almost every major league team and 10-12 teams are believed to be very serious in pursuing him, but he has an idea where he'd prefer to play. Baseball sources have told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that if he could choose, he'd come to Seattle to play because of the presence of center fielder Ichiro Suzuki and catcher Kenji Johjima.

!!

[catman]

If this guy signs with the Mariners, and is as good as advertised, the Mariners will be a tough team to deal with next season. I think he'd be a good fit there.

[Porter]

The Mariners and their Japanese Ownership could trump Steinbrenner and its bid. We really do need him to go with Felix.

[catman]

That would be a very nice top of the rotation, wouldn't it? 1 and 1A starters, either could go first.
I've seen Felix pitch in person. He has great stuff. I'm looking forward to seeing what this guy can do.

[Porter]

Ive followed Felix since he was in A ball. I seen him many time in Tacoma and his home debut. Hes got an filthy stuff and he gets to throw the slider this season.

[DirtyKash]

Mariners GM Bill Bavasi confirmed Wednesday that the team won't be a part of the bidding war for Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.
We disagree with the decision, but at least the Mariners are being up front about it, as opposed to the handful of teams that will throw in token bids and then say "well, we tried" to their fan base. The Mariners are still likely to pursue Jason Schmidt and Adam Eaton, among others.

[Slyder]

His Japanesse team wants 30 mil just for the rights to negotiate with him. That alone eliminates every team not from LA, NY, or Boston. Wow thats ridiculous.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6124634

The Lions reportedly plan to seek $30 million from a major league team just for rights to negotiate with Matsuzaka. That's not including the $13-15 million annual salary he'll likely earn.

Thought maybe the Reds try and get involved with the new group in power but when you look at the 30 mil JUST TO NEGOTIATE thats beyond ridiculous.