More baseball insanity.

[Milo Christensen]

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly paying 51 million dollars to a Japanese baseboro team for the rights to talk to a pitcher? Then they still have to negotiate a deal with the guy?

Put 51 million dollars into little league baseball here and Puerto Rico and see what comes out in a few years.

[Norman Bernstein]

I thought the fee to just talk to him was a measly $1M.... although it might take $50M to actually sign him!

[bamamick]

The fee is to be paid to his Japanese League team, which iirc still has him under contract for two more years. You are basically buying out his contract. Surprisingly, from what I have heard, he is willing to sign for around 6 million per year, which is chicken feed for a top-notch starter (if he is any good he could be worth 14-15 per his next go round).

This bid was waaayyy over what most people thought that they would pay. The last that I had heard 30 million was the expected bid. I think that Theo Epstein and co. must think that they've got the next Pedro. I believe that this kid is 27 years old.

Mickey Lake

[Milo Christensen]

I did a quick check. It's more correctly called a posting fee (aka: talking rights) and is only paid if Matzusaka signs with the BoSox. His contract is on top of the posting fee.

[Mrleft8]

Is this the guy that throws the "Gyro-ball"? The pitch that theoretically spins like a football?

[eleseus]

Is this the guy that throws the "Gyro-ball"? The pitch that theoretically spins like a football?

No, he throws the "Gyro Bawr". Close, though.

[bamamick]

two other guys who were going throught this same process, a third baseman and another pitcher. Some Japanese teams are getting rich.

By the way, this kid that the Red Saux are trying to sign was the MVP of the Baseball World Cup thingee they had last year.

Mickey Lake