The New York Times
By TYLER KEPNER
Published: November 9, 2006
There may be no pitcher available who fits the Yankees’ needs better than
Daisuke Matsuzaka. So it came as no surprise when the Yankees announced
yesterday that they would bid on the rights to negotiate with him by the 5
p.m. deadline.
The Mets were also expected to bid on Matsuzaka, but a spokesman said the
team would not announce if it had. The Texas Rangers said they would bid, and
the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs were also possible bidders.
In any case, the complicated courtship of Matsuzaka has entered its next
phase. Major League Baseball has collected the blind bids of teams interested
in negotiating with Matsuzaka, a 26-year-old right-hander for the Seibu Lions
in Japan.
Under the rules of the posting system, Commissioner Bud Selig will inform the
office of the Japanese commissioner’s office of the amount of the winning
bid. That office will then tell the Lions, who have four business days to
accept or reject the bid.
The Lions will not be told which team made the bid, but the identity should
not stay a secret for long. There is little doubt that the Lions will accept
the highest bid, and when they do, the team that made it will be notified.
That team would then have 30 days to negotiate a contract with Matsuzaka’s
agent, Scott Boras, who projected him as a No. 1 starter likely to command at
least $10 million a year. If no deal is reached, Matsuzaka will return to the
Lions and the major league team will get its money back.
The Seattle Mariners, who did not bid on Matsuzaka, paid $13.125 million in
2000 for the right to negotiate with Ichiro Suzuki. The winning bid for
Matsuzaka was expected to be much higher, perhaps $20 million or more, and
his status as a young power pitcher makes him compelling for all of the teams
involved.
For several years, the Yankees have tried unsuccessfully to overhaul an aging
rotation. But the signing of Matsuzaka, along with the development of the
right-handers Chien-Ming Wang and Phil Hughes, would give the Yankees a
foundation of three young starters.
The Yankees have health questions about two signed veterans — Randy Johnson
and Carl Pavano — and they continue to negotiate with Mike Mussina on a
two-year contract extension that will probably be worth $22 million to $23
million.
NATIONALS KEEP PENA WAITING It would seem that the Yankees’ first-base
coach, Tony Pena, remains a candidate for the Washington Nationals’ managing
job. But Pena, who has not spoken with the Nationals in about a month, is not
so sure.
“I’ve spoken with them once, but I have not heard from them yet,” Pena
said yesterday by telephone from the Dominican Republic. “I really can’t
answer that. They have not made a decision.”
The Nationals’ job has been open since the final weekend of the regular
season.. While the Chicago Cubs, the San Francisco Giants, the Texas Rangers,
the Florida Marlins and the San Diego Padres have filled their managers’
jobs, the Nationals have not. The Oakland Athletics also have an opening
that arose after the league championship series.
The Washington Post reported yesterday that Pena and the Mets coach Manny
Acta were the Nationals’ only publicly known candidates but did not rule out
the possibility of others.
Acta said Tuesday that he interviewed with Nationals executives before
leaving for Japan for an exhibition series.
“I thought it went real well,” Acta told The Associated Press. “I’m
familiar with the organization. The whole process really impressed me. They
have a plan in place, and with the new stadium coming up, it’s a very
attractive job, so I hope I get it.”
EXECUTIVES HONORED The Bronx Chamber of Commerce honored three Yankees
executives last night. Reggie Jackson, a special adviser to the principal
owner, George Steinbrenner, received the chamber’s Legend Award. Randy
Levine, the team president, was given the Trailblazer Award. Ray Negron,
another adviser to Steinbrenner and the author of “The Boy of Steel: A
Baseball Dream Come True,” a best-selling children’s book, received the
Humanitarian Award.
INDIANS GET BARFIELD Josh Barfield, who as a rookie second baseman helped San
Diego win a division title, was acquired by the Cleveland Indians, who traded
infielder Kevin Kouzmanoff and the right-hander Andrew Brown to the Padres.
The Padres also hired a new manager. They chose Bud Black, the Los Angeles
Angels pitching coach, to replace Bruce Bochy.
Barfield batted .280 with 32 doubles, 13 home runs and 58 runs batted in to
help the Padres win the National League West. The son of Jesse Barfield, a
former American League home run champion, he also had 21 steals and scored 72
times.
Barfield will help Cleveland’s defense, too. His .987 fielding percentage —
9 errors in 684 total chances — was third best among N.L. second basemen.
One of the Indians’ biggest deficiencies last season was their fielding up
the middle, which should improve because of Barfield’s speed and range. (AP)
CUBS HIRE HITTING COACH Cubs Manager Lou Piniella completed his staff as
Gerald Perry agreed to a two-year deal to be the team’s hitting coach.
Perry, who was Oakland’s hitting coach last season, served as the Seattle
Mariners’ hitting coach from 2000 to 2002 when Piniella was their manager.
(AP)
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