Submitted by AMenery, Nov 17, 2006 16:23

Funny you state such things as, - the Sox have virtually no leverage and that by ALL INDICATIONS the Sox will do everything it takes to sign him as a top pitcher, they could pay as much as $30 million annually? According to you they intend to make a deal, no matter how seemingly insane.

Instead of saying by all indications, can you provide actual support of this?

While you speculate the Sox will do everything to sign him, do you know this for sure?

Do you know the Sox insured they bid the highest to make sure they got him, or could it be argued they wanted make sure the Yankees didn't?

But the Sox do indeed have leverage, despite your spin. They have EXCLUSIVE rights -- that is a bit more leverage then the other 29 teams. If they don't sign him, guess what they don't have to pay a thing. Also, if the player doesn't sign it isn't simply going home to greener pastiers and a bigger contract next year, upon returning he will be vilified by the Japanese fans.

What happens if the Sox don't sign him ? The fans will simply be happy the Yankees didn't, while the Sox have increased revenue streams and new ownership and can't pretend to ba a small stadium/revenue team any longer but let's not pretend they weren't making a statement with this bid, and the statement isn't just about making sure they do everything to sign him.

Maybe they want him and will sign him, but certainly not for $30 million annualy, that would indeed be insane, but as for now it is just fuzzy math. Many articles have stated the majority of scouts and executives at the meetings think he is the most talented pitcher available, the Sox have stated their comfort level in payment (not near the highest) and Theo has a good history with big, bad, Boras...if he comes in closer to $21 million a year and Zito is $18, it is difficult to project which will be better, but at least it will be speaking in terms of reality instead of skirting around actually calling the Sox insane and suggesting they somehow changed the game.

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