Whether the six-year deal worth $52 million (and potentially up to $60 million with escalator clauses) would not have been consummated had the Sox brass not hopped on Henry's jet Monday for face-to-face negotiations is subject to conjecture. Fact is, the deal was far closer to the $7 million to $8 million per year the Sox pushed for than the $15 million to $17 million per year Boras thought the pitcher was worth, and everything will be finalized today at a 5 p.m. press conference at Fenway Park after Matsuzaka passes his medical tests.
The Sox also got a thumbs-up from former major league third baseman Mike Pagliarulo, who for years has run a sophisticated scouting service for international players, with emphasis on the Pacific Rim. Pagliarulo, who grew up in Medford, had watched the Matsuzaka situation closely because he had inside knowledge of the talented pitcher.
Pagliarulo also recommends what a Japanese player is worth to a major league team by using complicated formulas. Pagliarulo's service has been used by major league and Japanese teams, but the Red Sox aren't among his clientele.
When asked what he would have recommended as a posting figure for Matsuzaka, Pagliarulo said, "Fifty million. That's what I had written down long before the figures came out. That was based on the talent level of the player, the market for the player, and the value of the player to a team. The Red Sox did an excellent job in finding that value. They really did their homework."
Pagliarulo, who played for Seibu and was a teammate of current Lions manager Tsutomu Ito, is close to the Seibu ownership. He knew there was zero chance Matsuzaka was returning to Seibu. Pagliarulo also said that if Matsuzaka tried to return to Seibu, the team would not allow him to be posted again next season.
Pagliarulo figured that at some point Matsuzaka must have told Boras to get a deal done.
"In the end the Red Sox have given Matsuzaka a very fair contract," Pagliarulo said. "The Red Sox probably could have saved themselves some money, but I think their offer was a fair gesture of good will given the quality of the player.
