Given that there's not a single pitcher in the MLB who's worth effectively a $30 million signing bonus, plus 13 mil per year, I'm guessing this guy's not going to get that either.

I don't understand. There's something wrong with the draft system? Do you think that a handful of super-rich clubs should be able to gobble up all of the best talent? If so, let's just go ahead and contract MLB down to 5 or 6 teams. Let the Yanks, Mets, Red Sox, the 2 Chicago teams and the Dodgers just fight it out among themselves. How long would America's past-time last if one of 4 or 5 teams won the world series every year?

There are things wrong with the draft system. For example, one reason cited for the Red Sox doing so well in the last two drafts is that they were able to throw money at players who others thought were unsignable.

The history of professional baseball is the history of major league teams destroying minor leagues. One reason they do this is to stop the rich teams from getting richer. In the early days of baseball, the minor leagues were independent. They were able to sell their best players to the majors, giving them an extra source of income. But the majors had power, so they instituted a waiver rule, so the rich teams wouldn't buy up all the good players! So long independent minor leagues! And guess what? The rich teams still found ways to get the best players. Everything done, from bonus baby rules to drafts to luxury taxes didn't work.

What works is getting enough shared revenue into every teams pockets. That's what happened in the 1970-1980s and it appears to be happening now. All the other rules don't matter. The just hurt the economics of teams that aren't in the majors.

Mike,

Johan Santana is EASILY worth that amount of money. (You don't think the Yankees, Bosox, Dodgers, Angels etc. would pay that in a heartbeat to steal him away from the Twins?) That said, I'm not expected Matsuzaka to put up numbers anywhere near what Johan does. When you consider there are only two pitchers on the free agent market realistically capable of putting up a 3.50 ERA season over 200 innings, the Matsuzaka money starts to make sense. Now, shelling out that kind of dough is pointless for a rebuilding team. Matsuzaka alone isn't going to make you a contender. But for a team like the Mets, say, who need another solid pitcher to help assure they get to the World Series next year, he is worth that kind of money. (Not to mention the addition revenue they'd receive from increased Japanese interest.)

Isn't the reason the Lions are posting him is because they can lose him to free agency next year to any club that wants him?

Jurgen

30m is the number bandied about by media, it's what the seller would like to see. They will not. Does anyone think front office boys don't have spreadsheets? He's a wild card, could easily be a #3 starter. No bid goes over 20. That's still a nice bundle o dough.

Just a nitpick here, but in all likelihood Matsuzaka will be heading east, not west, when he comes to America. I don't have a problem with referring to Asia as "the East" for historical reasons, but in relation to North and South America, if you're talking about directions, Europe is east of us and Asia is west of us. In other words, I would say "Matsuzaka is headed to the West" or "Matsuzaka is headed east" but not "Matsuzaka is headed west."

This probably seems like a really petty complaint... sorry.

Oh, I don't know, David; look what a great job the MLBPA does to protect those eligible for the draft today. What could possibly go wrong?

Personally, Major League Baseball should pony up the amount for the negotiating fee (after some bartering to get it down to a reasonable price) so every team has a reasonable chance to sign him.

That's silly, Josh. Drop your commie crap at the door.