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Nov 14, 2006 8:16 pm US/Eastern
Seibu Lions Accept Boston's Bid For Matsuzaka
BOSTON (CBS4) ―
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Daisuke Matsuzaka was the MVP of the World Baseball Classic in March.
Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images
The Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League have told Major League Baseball they have accepted the Boston Red Sox's bid for the negotiation rights to right-handed pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, 26.
The Red Sox, who were the highest bidders, according to MLB, have 30 days to sign Matsuzaka to a Major or Minor League professional contract.
If no deal is reached, Matsuzaka will return to the Lions and the Red Sox will get its money back.
"We are pleased and excited to have acquired the rights to negotiate with Daisuke Matsuzaka," the Red Sox announced in a written statement. "We have long admired Mr. Matsuzaka's abilities and believe he would be a great fit as a member of our organization. We look forward to meeting Mr. Matsuzaka and beginning the next step of this process with him and his representative, Scott Boras."
The Sox bid $51.1 million for the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka, far exceeding any other team's offer.
Even before the announcement, general managers had assumed Boston would be the highest bidder in the blind process. "We'll congratulate the winner and move on," New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Tuesday afternoon.
Matsuzaka was 17-and-5 with 200 strikeouts for the Pacific League team this past season. He is known for throwing a "gyroball," a deceptive pitch that breaks to the left.
(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
