Point-Spreads.com has learned that the 26 year old Japanese right handed pitching phenom and MVP of the inaugural World Baseball Classic last March, Daisuke Matsuzaka has boarded a plane today with super-agent Scott Boras, Red Sox President Larry Lucchino and General Manager Theo Epstein and are flying to Boston for a physical and a possible contract signing tonight or tomorrow and beat Thursdays signing deadline.
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The Red Sox bid $51.1 million last month for the exclusive rights to talk to the pitcher, who led Japan's Pacific League in wins three times. The two sides had 30 days to reach an agreement. If they failed to reach a deal, Matsuzaka would play in Japan next season and the Red Sox wouldn't have to pay the fee.
Should the parties agree on a contract worth $100 million, for example, the Red Sox would actually be paying $151.11 million because they must pay the entire posting fee to the Seibu Lions, Matsuzaka’s team in the Japanese league.
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“In Japan, he’s known as the national treasure,” Boras told some three dozen media representatives, nearly all representing Japanese outlets. “Here, he will be known as Fort Knox.” Boras is the agent who negotiated Alex Rodriguez’s $252 million deal with the Texas Rangers and is reportedly asking more than a $100 million deal for Matsuzaka. Boras is known to be a tough negotiator who will negotiate right down to a final deadline.
Lucchino and Epstein traveled to California on Monday on controlling owner John Henry's plane. The Red Sox want Matsuzaka aboard on a contract with the Red Sox, and then on the plane when it returns to Boston. Epstein said that would provide time needed for Matsuzaka to have a physical before a deal is finalized.
“The progress is something I’m not going to comment on,” Boras said. “I’m not going to characterize the negotiations. This is not a customary negotiation. The question is, with a posting fee, how do you handle that?”
