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Interesting SI Article from Tom Verducci about Matsuzaka.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/tom_verducci/03/20/matsuzaka0326/4.html

Early speculation had the top fee coming in at $20 million to $30 million, roughly twice the $13 million Seattle put up in 2000 for the rights to Ichiro. Glowing reports from Pacific Rim scouts Craig Shipley and Jon Deeble persuaded the Red Sox that they had to have Matsuzaka. Privately they were terrified the Yankees would get him and build a dominant rotation with Matsuzaka; 26-year-old Chien Ming Wang, a 19-game winner last year; and Phil Hughes, who at 20 is considered baseball's best pitching prospect.

Red Sox executives figured New York was capable of bidding more than $40 million. But unbeknownst to them, Yankees G.M. Brian Cashman, who'd gained control of baseball operations, had been pushing a philosophical change to improve player development and curb the team's lavish spending. Cashman bid $33 million (and told people afterward that he felt uncomfortable going even that high).

Unlike the Yankees, whose bid was based largely on Matsuzaka's perceived value, the Red Sox were playing the game. They talked themselves into a $50 million bid as a hedge against the Yankees. Then owner John Henry bumped it to $51.1 million, for extra wiggle room and the uniqueness of the number. "We had to decide what he would be worth as an unrestricted free agent, then get the total price to fall in that range," Epstein says. "Two forces were at work. First, if you don't win the post, you don't get the player. We had strong indications that he didn't want to go back to Japan and would be motivated to sign. And second, the posting money is not counted against the luxury tax."

Henry and Red Sox president Larry Lucchino walked into the offices of Major League Baseball International with their sealed bid five minutes before the deadline. They promptly ran into New York Mets G.M. Omar Minaya and his assistant, Tony Bernazard, who were hand-delivering their own sealed bid: $39 million.

"I'm sure the Mets felt like they had the winning bid," Lucchino said. "The next thing you know, when the bid was announced, everybody was saying, 'The Red Sox bid what? Oh, my god.'"

Redsox Officials were terrified the Yankees would get him and build a dominant rotation with Matsuzaka; 26-year-old Chien Ming Wang, a 19-game winner last year; and Phil Hughes, who at 20 is considered baseball's best pitching prospect. Is this reason Why Redsox bid so high on Matsuzaka? Verducci's forgot to mention Wang and Hughes both are Yankees homegrown and developed to thru farm system? In 2005, Redsox traded their Top prospect Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez to get Josh Beckett. How did it turn out? As it turned out Beckett struggled last year in pitching in Al and gave up gazillions of homeruns. It angers me as Yankees Fan, The Redsox spends ridiculous amount of money this offseason but They can't resign Johnny Damon?

Because Lucchino keeps chirping that Yankees are Evil Empire. They can't spends the money and compete with the Yankees. I don't want to hear that word "Evil Empire" again from Redsox Fans after Redsox spends outrageous amount of money this offseason.

I hate to burst some people's bubbles, but the Sox went out and got Matsuzaka because he's going to be a very good pitcher, even in the AL East. Bidding that high isn't too insane considering the pitching market as it stands now; so even if Matsuzaka has a 4.00 ERA, 100 strikeout, 12 win season his first year out, he'll still be a bargain as compared to Ted Lilly or Barry Zito. He looks as though he'll be durable, have the ability to pitch well into games, and give the Sox a good chance each time out; what more can you ask of a pitcher?

As for the Red Sox themselves, they can't use that "Evil Empire" BS anymore, because when it comes right down to it, the Yankees are using more homegrown players, are spending less on an overinflated, weak free agent market and not getting into crazy long contracts anymore. Just look at the Sox spending this offseason- Drew is good only when not hurt, which is a rarity in his career and Lugo just plain stinks and will be booed out of Fenway before the season is out. With the Sox payroll up to $160 million, they are only $7 million off pace with the Yanks, and the Yanks have better players at almost every position. I'm not worried unless Beckett mans up and Papelbon comes as advertised.

I disagree. Igawa doesn't look like he can get through more than 6 innings right now- he throws a tremendous amount of pitches per inning. This may change, but Matsuzaka has 120 pitch bullpen sessions. Igawa can be very good, but Matsuzaka has the ability to be a legitimate ace.

Number one, spring training starts mean little. Number two, Beckett dominated the Yankees in 2003 in the games that mattered, and has excellent career numbers. Number three, I said Matsuzaka has the ABILITY to be an ace, not that he's GOING to be. His adjustment to the States may ruin him, I don't have a crystal ball.

The truth is that we base everything on past performance. Matsuzaka dominated during the WBC and is heralded by scouts as being an excellent pitcher. But what do they know? I'm just a Yankee fan that wants to see him fail.