Well, breathe easy, Boston; the Red Sox finally have Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Only took them a month of negotiating, a fast-approaching deadline and $103.1 million to sign the 26-year-old pitcher, who over eight seasons in those tiny Japanese League ballparks was 108-60 with a 2.95 earned-run average.
The Red Sox spent $52 million on a six-year contract for the right-hander.
They sent the other $51.1 million to the Seibu Lions, who owned the rights to the MVP of March's inaugural World Baseball Classic.
And everyone thought only the Yankees printed money.
So what does $103.1 million buy the Red Sox?
Perhaps a lot compared to what other teams have paid this offseason for free-agent pitchers.
That $103.1 million -- hey, it's only money -- looks like a bargain compared to the:
- $55 million for five years Kansas City threw at Gil Meche, who apparently was rewarded $1 million for each of his career victories in six years with Seattle.
- $40 million for four years the Chicago Cubs tossed at Ted Lilly, who had 49 victories over his last four years as a starter but averaged only 52/3 innings in those 120 starts.
- $40 million for four years the Chicago Cubs tossed at Ted Lilly, who had 49 victories over his last four years as a starter but averaged only 52/3 innings in those 120 starts.
- $34 million for three years Texas spent to keep Vincente Padilla and his 4.50 ERA.
- $24 million for three years the Phillies gave as a welcome-home bouquet to Adam Eaton, who they originally selected with the 11th overall pick of the 1996 amateur draft only to trade to San Diego in 1999.
Then again, maybe Matsuzaka turns out like so many of the 18 other Japanese pitchers who were expected to be the next whomever after Masanori Murakam became the first with San Francisco in 1964.
Remember Hideki Irabu? How about Kaz Ishii?
Take away Hideo Nomo with his 123-109 record and Matsuzaka's predecessors have a combined career record of 260-297.
