5 reasons why $51.1 million isn't too much

Tonight, Red Sox Nation
was graced with the news that the Red Sox won the bidding to negotiate with Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka. What was the winning bid? $51.1 million. Aside from the many press releases and articles carrying the news, the only readings about the victorous Red Sox put a negative light on the team. Yahoo! Sports writer Jeff Passan believes that beginning with Matsuzaka, baseball is entering a mad new world. ESPN shows that the Red Sox could have built an entire pitching staff for $51.1 million. But who cares? As the national media (excluding the Boston media of course) scratches their heads, I've been high-fiving myself since 8:00 eastern time. But why? Here are five reasons why the Red Sox have made a smart investment.

5. Matsuzaka can't become a Yankee

Boston winning the rights to Matsuzaka is like already breaking into the win column for the 2007 season. The Yankees were heavily pursuing Matsuzaka to add to their Far East collection, which already contains stars Hideki Matsui and Chien-Ming Wang. Many baseball experts believed that Matsuzaka was, in fact, heading to the Yankees. However, with the Red Sox getting the ace, it will have similar effects to the Yankees signing former Sox outfielder Johnny Damon last offseason.

4. Matsuzaka is a clutch pitcher

Baseball analysts believe that Matsuzaka would not be able to perform under the big lights of a Fenway Park or a Yankee Stadium. Wrong. Does anybody remember the World Baseball Classic? Matsuzaka made the best baseball players in the world look silly and helped Japan win the WBC championship. Oh, and he was the MVP of the tournament. Personally, I don't see any signs as to why Matsuzaka won't be able to pitch under pressure in the big leagues.

3. Matsuzaka will connect the Far East market to Boston

The talented and growing Far East market is turning into a very looked-upon resource for Major League talent. After the Mariners signed Ichiro, they have also rounded up former Rookie of the Year Kazuhiro Sasaki as well as catcher Kenji Johjima. Now the Red Sox can look to the Far East to get key free agents and these players will pinpoint Boston as a possible location.

2. Matsuzaka will make the Red Sox money

Not only will Red Sox Nation want to see this guy pitch, the entire nation of Japan will as well. Think of all the money a Matsuzaka-Matsui matchup will make for the Red Sox in Japan? Also, keep in mind how much the Red Sox will market their new ace? The Mariners did it with Ichiro and have ended up building their franchise around him. There are many possibilities in marketing Matsuzaka and over his tenure in Boston, just being in a Red Sox uniform will easily cover the $51.1 million to negotiate.

1. Matsuzaka gives the Red Sox one of the best and young pitching staffs in the MLB

Matsuzaka is 26. Josh Beckett is 26. Jonathan Papelbon is 26. Jon Lester is 22. This staff is very young and very talented. This staff will be very strong next season with Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield. However, when these two leave, their positions will be filled by Lester and a first round pick in last years draft, Daniel Bard, who's fastball has supposedly been clocked at 100 miles per hour recently.


Regardless of what the national media is saying, paying $51.1 million just to talk to Daisuke Matsuzaka was a smart move by Theo Epstein and the Red Sox organization. I beg you to differ.