Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Only 17 shopping days left.
By then, the Boston Red Sox will know if they have a Daisuke Matsuzaka all wrapped up, or if they will find coal in their red stockings, courtesy of Scott Boras.
Until then, we wait and yawn.
Of course, it is big news that the Red Sox are willing to pay $51.1 million for the rights to Matsuzaka, the Japanese star pitcher. But the signing deadline is not until Dec. 15, which means we have to suffer through endless speculation before then about whether Boston can come to a deal with Matsuzaka's agent, the aforementioned Mr. Boras, a.k.a. Mr. Grinch.
So what is a baseball columnist to do? Pile on the speculation, of course.
I'll be brief. Published reports have Boras wanting a three-year deal with Boston, then free agency. But, according to the rules, Matsuzaka is supposed to be bound to Boston for six years.
No way is Boston paying $51.1 million, PLUS salary for a three-year deal.
The guess here is at least a four-year deal with one or two option years.
If the Red Sox get that kind of deal, with a reasonable salary -- and if the club gets millions from marketing Matsuzaka -- then it will be good business.
BREAK UP THE DOGS: It is no surprise that the 2007 Portland Sea Dogs will not resemble the 2006 Eastern League championship team. The dismantling has begun, starting with Manager Todd Claus getting a promotion to advance scout/major league assistant coach.
Two of the many Sea Dogs free agents have already signed elsewhere, with pitcher Frank Brooks and corner infielder Brian Myrow going to the Padres organization.
The Sea Dogs also released catcher Alberto Concepcion, who had been a classy addition to the club the past two years. Concepcion could see this coming after he played only the first game of the EL playoffs in September after the arrival of catcher George Kottaras.
Concepcion, 25, came to Portland last year and hit .285 early. But he finished 2005 with a .249 average, and hit .227 this year.
Outfielders Brandon Moss and Jacoby Ellsbury will be in Pawtucket.
TOP PROSPECTS: Baseball America named Ellsbury Boston's top prospect heading into the 2007 season.
The publication annually list clubs' top 10 prospects at this time and expands to a top-30 list later.
The Red Sox's top 10, in order -- Ellsbury, pitchers Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden and Daniel Bard, first baseman Lars Anderson, infielder Dustin Pedroia, pitchers Bryce Cox, Craig Hansen and Kris Johnson, and outfielder Jason Place.
Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:
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