GaryMrMets
11-03-2006, 09:52 PM
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11032006/sports/mets/yanks__mets_set_to_go_to_d_mat_mets_mark_hale_____ _and_george_king.htm
Yanks, Mets Set To Go To D-Mat
By MARK HALE and GEORGE KING
November 3, 2006 -- Not only is the market open for Daisuke Matsuzaka, but the marketing for D-Mat also has started.
D-Mat - Matsuzaka's "American nickname," agent Scott Boras told The Post yesterday - was available for bidding yesterday, and teams have until 5 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday to try to land the rights for the Japanese right-hander.
With Matsuzaka's nickname set, Boras surely hopes the major contract is next. The team that gets Matsuzaka's rights will do so by offering the highest bid through MLB. While that total will be presented to the commissioner of Japanese baseball, the team to offer that sum won't be revealed. The Japanese commissioner will tell MLB within four business days whether the bid will be accepted; if it is, the team with the high bid will have 30 days to try to sign Matsuzaka.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman said, "I can't comment" when asked if the Yankees will bid on Matsuzaka. Nevertheless, an industry source said it's highly likely the Yankees will be involved.
Mets GM Omar Minaya, who spoke on a conference call yesterday, said of a bid, "I don't want to comment on what my thinking is, as far as what my plans are, what we're going to do."
Boras said the 26-year-old Matsuzaka "has a fastball that ranges from 95 to 97." He also described a gyroball Matsuzaka throws that "has late break to it, but it also . . . breaks across and down. But it's thrown hard." This past year with the Seibu Lions, Matsuzaka went 17-5 with a 2.13 ERA in 186.1 innings, striking out 200 and walking 34.
While it is impossible to predict how many teams will make bids, it's assumed five or six teams will enter the market. Expected to be in the hunt, in addition to the Yankees, are the Mets, Cubs and possibly Red Sox.
Not everyone in the Yankees universe is completely sold on Matsuzaka. There are members of the organizations who believe free agent Jason Schmidt is a better investment.
*
Minaya said he has told Willie Randolph the team wants to extend his contract, though negotiations have not started yet. . . . All the Mets coaches are returning, though Minaya said the A's have requested permission to interview third base coach Manny Acta, who has interviewed with the Nationals, Giants and Rangers for their managing jobs. . . . Minaya on how Guillermo Mota's 50-game steroid suspension impacts the Mets' future pitching plans: "He was definitely under consideration for us as a potential guy for next year, but now we have to reassess after the information that we got [Wednesday]."
Yanks, Mets Set To Go To D-Mat
By MARK HALE and GEORGE KING
November 3, 2006 -- Not only is the market open for Daisuke Matsuzaka, but the marketing for D-Mat also has started.
D-Mat - Matsuzaka's "American nickname," agent Scott Boras told The Post yesterday - was available for bidding yesterday, and teams have until 5 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday to try to land the rights for the Japanese right-hander.
With Matsuzaka's nickname set, Boras surely hopes the major contract is next. The team that gets Matsuzaka's rights will do so by offering the highest bid through MLB. While that total will be presented to the commissioner of Japanese baseball, the team to offer that sum won't be revealed. The Japanese commissioner will tell MLB within four business days whether the bid will be accepted; if it is, the team with the high bid will have 30 days to try to sign Matsuzaka.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman said, "I can't comment" when asked if the Yankees will bid on Matsuzaka. Nevertheless, an industry source said it's highly likely the Yankees will be involved.
Mets GM Omar Minaya, who spoke on a conference call yesterday, said of a bid, "I don't want to comment on what my thinking is, as far as what my plans are, what we're going to do."
Boras said the 26-year-old Matsuzaka "has a fastball that ranges from 95 to 97." He also described a gyroball Matsuzaka throws that "has late break to it, but it also . . . breaks across and down. But it's thrown hard." This past year with the Seibu Lions, Matsuzaka went 17-5 with a 2.13 ERA in 186.1 innings, striking out 200 and walking 34.
While it is impossible to predict how many teams will make bids, it's assumed five or six teams will enter the market. Expected to be in the hunt, in addition to the Yankees, are the Mets, Cubs and possibly Red Sox.
Not everyone in the Yankees universe is completely sold on Matsuzaka. There are members of the organizations who believe free agent Jason Schmidt is a better investment.
*
Minaya said he has told Willie Randolph the team wants to extend his contract, though negotiations have not started yet. . . . All the Mets coaches are returning, though Minaya said the A's have requested permission to interview third base coach Manny Acta, who has interviewed with the Nationals, Giants and Rangers for their managing jobs. . . . Minaya on how Guillermo Mota's 50-game steroid suspension impacts the Mets' future pitching plans: "He was definitely under consideration for us as a potential guy for next year, but now we have to reassess after the information that we got [Wednesday]."