Boston Welcomes Matsuzaka

Last December Scott Boras facilitated the dramatic departure of a high profile Red Sox player who wore number 18. Almost a year later, at the conclusion of an even more dramatic process, he stood by as a new #18 was introduced this afternoon at Fenway Park. Before a throng of reporters, GM Theo Epstein formally announced that the Sox have signed Japanese sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka to a six year deal, reportedly worth $52 million with $8 million in incentives. In exchange for the right to sign the 26-year-old right hander, Boston will send $51.11 million to the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions--their record high bid in the Japanese posting process. Matsuzaka boasts a robust arsenal of pitches including a mid-90s fastball, a devastating slider which has drawn comparisons to Randy Johnson’s, and has been linked with the legendary gyro-ball. In an eight year career with Seibu, Matsuzaka owns a 108-60 record, a 2.95 ERA and 1,355 strikeouts in 1,402.2 innings, going 17-5 with a 2.13 ERA in 2006. He was named the MVP of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in which he won all three of his starts while allowing only two earned runs.

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