Red Sox make offer to Matsuzaka
TOKYO (AP) - The Red Sox have made an offer to pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka that Boston president Larry Lucchino describes as "fair" and "comprehensive."
Lucchino, in Tokyo on Tuesday after meeting with representatives of Matsuzaka's Seibu Lions, said the Red Sox have taken the next step toward signing the Japanese star.
"We have sent a formal offer to Matsuzaka and his agent Scott Boras," Lucchino said. "I believe it is fair and comprehensive, and offers a great deal of security and a substantial level of compensation."
Boston bid $51.1 million for the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka, who was the MVP of last spring's World Baseball Classic. The team has until the end of Dec. 14 to sign him.
In his meetings with Seibu officials, Lucchino said he discussed the possibility of the Red Sox and the Lions forming a long-term "working relationship."
Such a relationship could help facilitate a deal if contract talks stall. Media reports have said the sides are far apart in early negotiations.
If the Red Sox don't sign Matsuzaka, his rights returns to the Lions. To avoid that, Seibu could reduce the bid to help the sides reach a deal.
Lucchino brushed aside suggestions that the bid was made just to block the New York Yankees from signing Matsuzaka.
"I assure you that the notion that this is a primarily defensive maneuver is preposterous," Lucchino said, adding that 51.1 million is "obviously a historical number but we are talking about a national living treasure and an exceptional baseball player."
Lucchino sounded confident that a deal will be reached.
"We know it's been his dream to play in the major leagues and we are proud that he will live out his dream in Boston with the Boston Red Sox," Lucchino said.
Drew closer to Red Sox deal
BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Red Sox are making progress toward signing free agent J.D. Drew, a move that could give them enough outfield options to be in a better position to trade Manny Ramirez.
The Red Sox and Drew are getting closer to a contract agreement, a person familiar with the negotiations said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity because talks were ongoing.
The team has been exploring deals for Ramirez, who has two years left on his eight-year contract and has asked to be traded several times. He can decline any trade because he's been in the majors for 10 years and with the same team for five.
Ramirez's agent, Greg Genske, did not return a telephone call or an e-mail seeking comment Monday. Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein did not respond to an e-mail.
Baseball's winter meetings are scheduled next week from Monday through Thursday in Florida.
Drew opted out of the last three years of his five-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Nov. 9 and became a free agent. He played 135 games as their right fielder this year and hit .283 with 20 homers and a team-high 100 RBIs.
Trot Nixon, Boston's right fielder, is a free agent. Wily Mo Pena, who played the position when Nixon was hurt last season, had trouble fielding there and seems better suited to Fenway Park's smaller left field, where Ramirez has been the regular.
If the 31-year-old Drew joins the Red Sox and Ramirez leaves, they could open next season with Pena in left, Coco Crisp in center and Drew in right.
Ramirez, 34, has hit .316 with 234 homers and 712 RBIs in six seasons with Boston and has served as protection in the cleanup spot for No. 3 hitter David Ortiz. But Ramirez has a quirky personality and was absent from the lineup late in the season with tendinitis in his right knee.
He started only nine games in the last six weeks and his 130 games were the third-fewest in his last 12 seasons. Still he finished with 35 homers, 102 RBIs and a .321 batting average.
When Ramirez reported for spring training last March 1, Genske said the slugger had "kept an open mind" about where he wants to play.
After the 2003 season, the Red Sox placed Ramirez on waivers in an effort to relieve themselves of his expensive contract. In 2005, Ramirez sat out the last two games before the July 31 trade deadline while the team explored possible deals. The Red Sox held trade discussions about him before last season.
Ramirez is due $18 million next season and $20 million in 2008. That price might no longer keep a team from trading for him now that other outfielders have signed big-money deals - Carlos Lee with Houston for $100 million over six years and Alfonso Soriano with the Chicago Cubs for $136 million over eight years.
Ramirez's deal contains $20 million club options for 2009 and 2010.
TOKYO (AP) - The Red Sox have made an offer to pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka that Boston president Larry Lucchino describes as "fair" and "comprehensive."
Lucchino, in Tokyo on Tuesday after meeting with representatives of Matsuzaka's Seibu Lions, said the Red Sox have taken the next step toward signing the Japanese star.
"We have sent a formal offer to Matsuzaka and his agent Scott Boras," Lucchino said. "I believe it is fair and comprehensive, and offers a great deal of security and a substantial level of compensation."
Boston bid $51.1 million for the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka, who was the MVP of last spring's World Baseball Classic. The team has until the end of Dec. 14 to sign him.
In his meetings with Seibu officials, Lucchino said he discussed the possibility of the Red Sox and the Lions forming a long-term "working relationship."
Such a relationship could help facilitate a deal if contract talks stall. Media reports have said the sides are far apart in early negotiations.
If the Red Sox don't sign Matsuzaka, his rights returns to the Lions. To avoid that, Seibu could reduce the bid to help the sides reach a deal.
Lucchino brushed aside suggestions that the bid was made just to block the New York Yankees from signing Matsuzaka.
"I assure you that the notion that this is a primarily defensive maneuver is preposterous," Lucchino said, adding that 51.1 million is "obviously a historical number but we are talking about a national living treasure and an exceptional baseball player."
Lucchino sounded confident that a deal will be reached.
"We know it's been his dream to play in the major leagues and we are proud that he will live out his dream in Boston with the Boston Red Sox," Lucchino said.
Drew closer to Red Sox deal
BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Red Sox are making progress toward signing free agent J.D. Drew, a move that could give them enough outfield options to be in a better position to trade Manny Ramirez.
The Red Sox and Drew are getting closer to a contract agreement, a person familiar with the negotiations said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity because talks were ongoing.
The team has been exploring deals for Ramirez, who has two years left on his eight-year contract and has asked to be traded several times. He can decline any trade because he's been in the majors for 10 years and with the same team for five.
Ramirez's agent, Greg Genske, did not return a telephone call or an e-mail seeking comment Monday. Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein did not respond to an e-mail.
Baseball's winter meetings are scheduled next week from Monday through Thursday in Florida.
Drew opted out of the last three years of his five-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Nov. 9 and became a free agent. He played 135 games as their right fielder this year and hit .283 with 20 homers and a team-high 100 RBIs.
Trot Nixon, Boston's right fielder, is a free agent. Wily Mo Pena, who played the position when Nixon was hurt last season, had trouble fielding there and seems better suited to Fenway Park's smaller left field, where Ramirez has been the regular.
If the 31-year-old Drew joins the Red Sox and Ramirez leaves, they could open next season with Pena in left, Coco Crisp in center and Drew in right.
Ramirez, 34, has hit .316 with 234 homers and 712 RBIs in six seasons with Boston and has served as protection in the cleanup spot for No. 3 hitter David Ortiz. But Ramirez has a quirky personality and was absent from the lineup late in the season with tendinitis in his right knee.
He started only nine games in the last six weeks and his 130 games were the third-fewest in his last 12 seasons. Still he finished with 35 homers, 102 RBIs and a .321 batting average.
When Ramirez reported for spring training last March 1, Genske said the slugger had "kept an open mind" about where he wants to play.
After the 2003 season, the Red Sox placed Ramirez on waivers in an effort to relieve themselves of his expensive contract. In 2005, Ramirez sat out the last two games before the July 31 trade deadline while the team explored possible deals. The Red Sox held trade discussions about him before last season.
Ramirez is due $18 million next season and $20 million in 2008. That price might no longer keep a team from trading for him now that other outfielders have signed big-money deals - Carlos Lee with Houston for $100 million over six years and Alfonso Soriano with the Chicago Cubs for $136 million over eight years.
Ramirez's deal contains $20 million club options for 2009 and 2010.
