2006.E2.80.9307_controversy Posting_system

the posting system criticized after boston red sox paid total of $103.1 million sign pitcher daisuke matsuzaka.

the posting system criticized mlb insiders , u.s. media, after controversial 2006–07 posting period. before posting of period s first player, daisuke matsuzaka, in november 2006, there speculation might draw bids high $30 million—more twice previous record bid ichiro suzuki had garnered in 2000–01. after silent auction closed, revealed matsuzaka had drawn bid of $51.1 million, shocking american , japanese baseball executives. boston red sox s winning bid more $11 million higher next largest.

with negotiations between matsuzaka , red sox @ stalemate negotiation period neared close, washington post s dave sheinin questioned both parties intentions. sheinin believed red sox had foreseen contractual stalemate , had submitted high bid deny new york yankees opportunity negotiate matsuzaka. however, after matsuzaka s agent scott boras threatened take matsuzaka npb if price not met, sheinin theorized boras intentionally wanted hinder contract negotiations. espn magazine s tim kurkjian described situation obvious game of chicken ever. sheinin suggested that, should negotiations fail, boras take legal action on grounds requirement of mlb teams pay large transfer fees npb teams artificially depressed player s personal contract. boras did not believe transfer fee should affect player s compensation.

despite negotiation difficulties, boston red sox signed matsuzaka. team paid approximately $103.1 million in total, including transfer fee , contract, acquire pitcher. kurkjian believes fees , contracts high, small-market teams not afford compete large-market teams rights negotiate posted japanese players. kurkjian blames posting system s use of blind bidding system cause of matsuzaka s outrageous offer. postulates matsuzaka s high bid amount helped inflate bids kei igawa posted 2 weeks later, perpetuating problem further. after winning negotiation rights igawa, yankees general manager brian cashman told reporters posting system, took place winter, might not best system . kurkjian claims other mlb executives believe traditional free agent structure, highest bidder wins, better current system. cashman , yankees team president randy levine met npb team officials in 2007 discuss posting system, among other things. these meetings did not result in immediate changes.