Negotiations between the Red Sox and Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka have essentially broken down, a source familiar with the talks said late last night, adding that unless there is an abrupt change of course, Matsuzaka will not be signing with the Red Sox before Thursday’s midnight deadline.
Attempts to reach Matsuzaka’s agent, Scott Boras, were unsuccessful last night. However, the well-placed source blamed Boras for stubbornly being unable to get over the flaws in the Japanese posting system, saying that he has been unwilling to negotiate and that he has acted disinterested in even making a deal.
With five days left to negotiate, this high-stakes process still has plenty of time to take any number of twists and turns and it should be noted that the source conceded there is still time for things to change. Still, the mood is dire enough that the Red Sox want to temper fans’ expectations over their ability to land the lavishly praised 26-year-old right-hander.
The Red Sox’ winning $51.11 million bid to the Seibu Lions last month gained them exclusive negotiating rights with the player.
His acquisition would represent a tremendous coup on many levels for the Red Sox, from a strictly on-the-field aspect of making their rotation one of the best in the game, to keeping him from the Yankees, and not to mention the revenue streams that would be opened up with the club’s increased presence in the Far East.
The U.S.-Japanese posting system is a complex and poorly understood process ripe for an overhaul. Still, it is the reality that both sides have to deal with right now and, among other things, it leaves Boras in the unusual position of having to negotiate with only one team.
Long accustomed to negotiating with “multiple teams” in order to garnish rich contracts for his extensive client list, Boras has chafed from the beginning about the inequities of this system and has hinted repeatedly that the process will end either in Matsuzaka signing with the Red Sox or with Matsuzaka declining and having to go back to Japan.
The Lions will not receive a penny of the $51.11 million if Matsuzaka does not sign. The Red Sox sent their president and CEO, Larry Lucchino, to Japan to speak with the Lions last month, and Lucchino spoke then of the “comprehensive” offer the Red Sox had made to Matsuzaka. Lucchino also spoke of his desire for the Red Sox to strike a long-term working relationship with the Lions.
It is believed that the Red Sox’ initial offer was for somewhere between $7 million and $8 million a year for between four to six years, while Boras was asking for approximately $15 million a year. It is unclear if counterproposals have been exchanged yet but if they have, the source told the Herald last night that neither side has made a significant move toward a common ground.
At the winter meetings last week in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Boras spoke of the challenges of the posting system:
“For that system to operate,” he said, “there has to be participation among all the parties and if the situation is looked at in one direction or selfishly by any of the parties, then it’s not going to work.”
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ボラス次第。今更ポスティングシステムが、どうのこうのとは腑に落ちない。
Attempts to reach Matsuzaka’s agent, Scott Boras, were unsuccessful last night. However, the well-placed source blamed Boras for stubbornly being unable to get over the flaws in the Japanese posting system, saying that he has been unwilling to negotiate and that he has acted disinterested in even making a deal.
With five days left to negotiate, this high-stakes process still has plenty of time to take any number of twists and turns and it should be noted that the source conceded there is still time for things to change. Still, the mood is dire enough that the Red Sox want to temper fans’ expectations over their ability to land the lavishly praised 26-year-old right-hander.
The Red Sox’ winning $51.11 million bid to the Seibu Lions last month gained them exclusive negotiating rights with the player.
His acquisition would represent a tremendous coup on many levels for the Red Sox, from a strictly on-the-field aspect of making their rotation one of the best in the game, to keeping him from the Yankees, and not to mention the revenue streams that would be opened up with the club’s increased presence in the Far East.
The U.S.-Japanese posting system is a complex and poorly understood process ripe for an overhaul. Still, it is the reality that both sides have to deal with right now and, among other things, it leaves Boras in the unusual position of having to negotiate with only one team.
Long accustomed to negotiating with “multiple teams” in order to garnish rich contracts for his extensive client list, Boras has chafed from the beginning about the inequities of this system and has hinted repeatedly that the process will end either in Matsuzaka signing with the Red Sox or with Matsuzaka declining and having to go back to Japan.
The Lions will not receive a penny of the $51.11 million if Matsuzaka does not sign. The Red Sox sent their president and CEO, Larry Lucchino, to Japan to speak with the Lions last month, and Lucchino spoke then of the “comprehensive” offer the Red Sox had made to Matsuzaka. Lucchino also spoke of his desire for the Red Sox to strike a long-term working relationship with the Lions.
It is believed that the Red Sox’ initial offer was for somewhere between $7 million and $8 million a year for between four to six years, while Boras was asking for approximately $15 million a year. It is unclear if counterproposals have been exchanged yet but if they have, the source told the Herald last night that neither side has made a significant move toward a common ground.
At the winter meetings last week in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Boras spoke of the challenges of the posting system:
“For that system to operate,” he said, “there has to be participation among all the parties and if the situation is looked at in one direction or selfishly by any of the parties, then it’s not going to work.”
-----
ボラス次第。今更ポスティングシステムが、どうのこうのとは腑に落ちない。
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