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BOSTON - Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka made history today as the most expensive Japanese player to enter Major League Baseball after the Boston Red Sox sealed a record-breaking deal worth a total US$103.1 million ($151.6 million).
After winning the rights to negotiate with Matsuzaka by agreeing to pay a record US$51.1 million to his Seibu Lions team in Japan, Boston and Matsuzaka's agent Scott Boras hammered out a six-year US$52 million contract.
"Today what we are really doing is announcing the signing of a national treasure," Red Sox executive vice president/general manager Theo Epstein told a news conference packed with reporters from Japan at Boston's Fenway Park.
The deal, which includes incentive clauses that could increase the value of the contract to US$60 million, followed negotiations in southern California that continued on a nearly five-hour flight with Red Sox officials to Boston on Wednesday -- a day before a 30-day deadline to reach an agreement expired.
"I'm very happy and excited to be a member of the Boston Red Sox," a smiling Matsuzaka said after holding up a number 18 Boston shirt and trying on a blue Red Sox cap before a bank of flashing cameras.
The 26-year-old righthander described the experience as the biggest thrill of his life outside marriage and having a child. As part of his introduction to Boston he was scheduled to appear later on Thursday at a Bruins hockey game to drop the puck for the opening face-off.
"I think he's the real deal," Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said.
"It's not only good for the Red Sox but it's good for Boston."
Tourism officials already reckon the signing of Matsuzaka will generate a US$75 million windfall in tourist dollars next year by drawing an extra 20,000 tourists to Boston.
Matsuzaka recorded 200 strikeouts last season and has a 108-60 career record. He has spent eight years as the Seibu Lions' top pitcher and led the team to a championship in 2004.
He was named Most Valuable Player at this year's inaugural World Baseball Classic after pitching Japan to the title.
The contract more than doubles the biggest Major League Baseball contract for a Japanese player -- the three-year, US$21 million deal the New York Yankees signed for Hideki Matsui in 2002.
- REUTERS
