By STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS (Original publication: February 2, 2007)
TOKYO - The Yankees hope to introduce a whole new set of fans to their rivalry with the Boston Red Sox.
And with Daisuke Matsuzaka now pitching for the Red Sox, playing against Hideki Matsui and Kei Igawa, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has every reason to believe that will be the case.
"We have two great organizations that both respect each other, and now we'll take that battle overseas," Cashman said at a press conference in Tokyo yesterday. "Bringing the rivalry over here is something special."
Cashman and Yankee president Randy Levine were in Tokyo on the second leg of an Asian tour.
The two were in Beijing earlier this week, and the Yankees agreed to send coaches, scouts and trainers to China to boost interest in baseball, furthering a push by Major League Baseball into one of the world's fastest-growing sports markets.
The Yankees' delegation held meetings with management of the Yomiuri Giants, their Japanese partner, yesterday.
They will travel to Okinawa today, where the Hanshin Tigers will be holding spring training. The Yankees bought the rights to Igawa from the Tigers last month.
Matsuzaka signed a $52 million, six-year contract with the Red Sox in December after they bid $51 million for his negotiating rights.
Shortly after that, Igawa agreed to a $20 million, five-year contract with the Yankees after the club bid $26 million for his negotiating rights.
Note: Right-hander Matt DeSalvo cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Scranton. He was invited to spring training.
