Japan Times: Matsuzaka to be posted.

[Mephistopheles]

I got the heads up from Will Carroll's latest UTK column:

 

Will Carroll[/url]"]The Japan Times is reporting that Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Seibu ace who dominated during the Classic, will be posted. I was able to talk with several front offices about Matsuzaka and all agree that his posting will be in the $20m range with a salary demand "not unlike Jose Contreras now, maybe more," according to an AL executive. Everyone I asked about Matsuzaka asked two questions: what is a gyroball and how much damage has his arm taken with his insane workload?

 

So I went and dug up the JT article.

 

Wayne Graczyk[/url]"]Meanwhile, it appears certain the Seibu Lions will post ace right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, and one Japanese sportswriter said a major league club bidding and subsequently negotiating a contract with Matsuzaka may have to put up as much as $ 100 million, including a $ 25-30 million posting payoff to Seibu and a $ 70 million, five-year contract with the player who turns 26 on Sept. 13.

 

That article goes on to say that three NL teams were scouting Akinori Iwamura (3B) and Hirotoshi Ishii (LHP). Hiroki Kuroda is mentioned in that he's getting scouted, but it's not sure if he'll cross the pond. He took a lot of flack during the WBC from Nobuhiko Matsunaka that he was using the WBC just to get scouted, he didn't pitch in it. He got hurt iirc. They also sayit is "90%" certain NPB HR leader Seung Yeop Lee is crossing the Pacific.

 

In other random but interesting Japanese baseball news, amateur pitcher Yuki Saito won Koshien, pitching four complete games in four days (!).

[Soriano12]

I don't see the Cubs having a shot at all....

 

They don't even have 30 mil for a parking garage.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-nws-wrig22.html

[C.C.]

I don't see the Cubs having a shot at all....

 

They don't even have 30 mil for a parking garage.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-nws-wrig22.html

 

I laughed at that also this morning! Gimme a break!

[YearofDaCubs]

I don't see the Cubs having a shot at all....

 

They don't even have 30 mil for a parking garage.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-nws-wrig22.html

 

I laughed at that also this morning! Gimme a break!

They'll do it next year when they lower salary to 80 mil.

[PrimeTime]

I wish we could get Matsuzaka on our team..On an team is a ace or easily a number 2.. His pitches are just filthy...Tell Hendry to go get the guy

[1908]

This appears to be conjecture at this point, still. The Swallows are "leaning toward posting" their two all-stars, and "it appears certain the Seibu Lions will post ace right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka." Official announcements won't be made until after the Japan Series most likely, and teams have said one thing and done another as far as postings go. Very exciting news if it happens. I'll feel better when it appears in the Daily Yomiuri.

[Sammy Sofa]

I don't see the Cubs having a shot at all....

 

They don't even have 30 mil for a parking garage.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-nws-wrig22.html

 

I laughed at that also this morning! Gimme a break!

They'll do it next year when they lower salary to 80 mil.

 

And they will, too. I think a lot of this extra emphasis on youth playing time is setting us up for a team of cheap rookies next year with no big add-ons. I personally believe a payroll cut is inevitable and would be shocked if it was above $85 million next year.