Sox Get Their Man

I try not to post too much baseball related items on here because I realize that about 10% of you actually care enough about the sport, and even less care about the "Red Sox":http://www.redsox.com in particular. Still today is a day that could be seen as a watershed for the 2007/2008 seasons or the day the front office got taken behind the shed. For those not following this American pastime the last 30 days, the Red Sox won exclusive negotiating rights for the premier off-season pitching talent -- 26 year old *Daisuke* (Dice-K) *Matsuzaka*. And all it cost them? A $51.1 million posting bid to the Seibu Lions and a 6 year, $52 million contract to Dice-K. While there was doubt near the end whether or not Matsuzaka's agent, *Scott Boras*, might not get a deal done; the deal got done and pending the physical results, the Red Sox will announce their new pitching talent today at 5PM (EST). So what does this mean, besides an early Christmas present for *Red Sox Nation*? # The Red Sox front office got their man in the price range they wanted all along. Leading up to last night's agreement, there were reports that Boras was demanding as much as $18M - $20M per year for Matsuzaka. An agent known for getting teams to outbid even themselves, the Red Sox stuck to their guns and didn't panic. They got their guy in the price range they wanted (price range set reportedly was $7M - $9M) at a little over $8M a year for a pitcher about to come into his prime. # Coming into this off-season, the number one concern for the Red Sox was pitching, pitching and more pitching. With Matsuzaka's addition to the rotation, he cements a young trio of pitchers about to enter their prime. All 26 years of age, Matsuzaka will pitch with *Josh Beckett* and *Jonathan Papelbon* along with veterans *Curt Schilling* and *Tim Wakefield*. On paper, at least, this makes the Red Sox the team to beat in the AL East, if not the American League and/or World Series favorites. # Despite all their potential, the three young stars of Boston's rotation have question marks. Nothing in baseball is ever a slam-dunk, and despite all the fervor and excitement over these three young stars, there is always the possibility things don't pan out. Beckett's blister problems could come back and his on-going adjustment to the American League (and reliance more upon his off-speed stuff) could take longer. Papelbon's transition from closer to starter, while better long-term for the Sox, could have a few more bumps then thought. And despite all the fan-fare, no Japanese pitcher has come over yet and just completely dominated in the MLB for more than a season or two. Could Matsuzaka be the one? Potentially? Yes. He has the stuff. He's young. Most pitchers from Japan come over on the other side of 30 and on the downside of their prime, so if anyone can buck the trend -- Dice-K is the man. # And despite plugging holes at shortstop with *Julio Lugo*, right field with *J.D. Drew*, and holding onto RBI machine *Manny Rameriz*, the Sox still very much have a hole at closer that needs to be filled. But it's December and most of the line-up can be penciled in. The Sox have 2 months before pitchers and catchers report, and 3.5 months before camp breaks to figure out their closer situation via a signing, trade, or promotion from within. On paper, next year seems to always look like "the year" the Sox could win it all again; and this year hasn't failed to deliver. With the possibility still out there of picking up *Roger Clemens*, who could retire in the place he first broke into the majors, outsmarting the Yankees ($52M/6y for Matsuzaka vs. $45M/2y for *Andy Pettite*), and cementing their front rotation for the next 4-6 years; the Red Sox could look back on this off-season as the one were they finally took a step ahead of *Cashman* & Co. down in the Bronx. Then again this could 2005 all over again with *Renteria* and *Clement*. Only time will tell. For now, I'm content to dream October dreams once again.

Posted by Joshua Hynes

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 8:18am. It has been filed under News, Sports, Thoughts, Joshua, Lists.

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