Red Sox close deal
The $51.11 million the Boston Red Sox offered to pay for the rights to Daisuke Matsuzaka was enough to get the Japanese ace across the Pacific Ocean.
It took that much again, and a little more, to fly him the rest of the way to Boston.
Bridging the economic gap in the most expensive cultural exchange in baseball history, the Red Sox reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday with Matsuzaka on a $52 million, six-year contract. With $103.11 million on the table, the two sides flew back to Boston on Red Sox owner John Henry’s private plane.
“Theo and I were still negotiating terms when we arrived,” agent Scott Boras said after a long day of talks with general manager Theo Epstein, “We finalized the deal when he arrived in Boston.”
The Red Sox planned a 2 p.m. PST news conference today to announce the deal, a person familiar with the talks said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Matsuzaka gets a $2 million signing bonus, $6 million next year, $8 million in each of the following three seasons and $10 million in each of the final two years.
The Red Sox won the bidding for Matsuzaka’s rights last month, promising to pay the Seibu Lions $51.11 million if they let him leave for the major leagues. But they had just 30 days – until midnight today – to negotiate a contract with Boras or the right-hander would return to Japan and Boston would keep its money.
When talks stalled, the Red Sox brass flew uninvited to Boras’ turf in Southern California on Monday to meet with him in person. They said they had to leave Wednesday morning, with or without an agreement; Boras has said Matsuzaka would not go to Boston for a physical unless the sides had the makings of a deal.
So when Henry’s plane took off – with Matsuzaka aboard – from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif., Boston radio stations and Web sites tracked its path as religiously as they had been counting down the minutes to the deadline.
Padres add Maddux
Greg Maddux finalized his $10 million, one-year contract with San Diego, then hinted that there’s really no end in sight to his long, successful career.
The four-time Cy Young Award winner made a quick trip from his off-season home in Las Vegas to take his physical – which he passed – and then appear at a news conference.
Wells offered extension
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered All-Star center fielder Vernon Wells a contract extension worth more $120 million.
General manager J.P. Ricciardi declined to give specifics. Wells told the Globe and Mail that it would be worth between $126 million and $136 million and extend for seven or eight years.
Twins finalize Cirillo deal
The Minnesota Twins finalized their $1.5 million, one-year contract with Jeff Cirillo.
The 37-year-old Cirillo passed a physical to complete a deal that could earn him an additional $300,000 in performance bonuses: $100,000 each for reaching 200, 250, and 300 plate appearances.
He batted a team-leading .319 with three homers and 23 RBIs for Milwaukee in 263 at-bats last season while starting at all four infield positions.
Cleveland signs Harris
The Cleveland Indians and right-hander Jeff Harris agreed to a minor league contract.
The 33-year-old Harris started last season with Seattle, posting a 5.40 ERA in three games before being sent to Triple-A Tacoma.
Hollins offer declined
Outfielder Damon Hollins became a free agent when Tampa Bay declined to offer him a contract for next season by Tuesday night’s deadline.
No offer for Wood
Right-hander Mike Wood became a free agent when Texas didn’t offer him a major league contract for the 2007 season.
Wood was the only Rangers player not tendered a contract by Tuesday night’s deadline.