Somethings Fishy with the Matsuzaka Deal

First there was talk of Seibu and the BoSox doing a backdoor deal on the posting fee. Then Larry Lucchino went to Japan looking for sponsors. Now it seems he was conspiring with Seibu to circumvent the posting rules by getting Seibu to pay some of D-Mat's salary from the fee. It was the talk of the winter baseball meetings. Here's an excerpt from today's New York Times:

Boras said he had no discussion about Drew with the Red Sox before Nov. 10. "We adhere to the rules," he added. But others remain skeptical. Club executives and baseball officials are also watching the Red Sox negotiations with Boras for Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Japanese pitcher, for whom Boston bid $51.1 million just for the right to talk to him.

They have observed as Larry Lucchino, the Red Sox chief executive, recently went to Japan to meet with Matsuzaka's team, the Seibu Lions, for the stated purpose of establishing a working agreement between the teams. They have read with interest Boras's view that there is no rule barring the Lions from sharing part of the posting fee with the player, thus making it easier for the Red Sox to sign him for less of their own money.

"No one can enter into an agreement that would circumvent the posting process," said Lou Melendez, major league baseball's vice president for international operations. "What I read would seem to be a way of getting around the posting process. The commissioner's office would investigate. If you speak to the Japanese commissioner's office, which we have, any kind of arrangement, this or any other, would not be allowed."

The commissioner's office wouldn't allow it for another reason: it would be a way for the Red Sox to try to avoid paying the luxury tax, since giving Matsuzaka a smaller contract would diminish the overall Boston payroll.

Now this is what I would agree is a corrupting influence if this is indeed true. D-Mat may be a Met after all.