« 5 URI students released on bail after drug arrests | Today | Today could be a record-breaker »

December 13, 2006

Update: Sox bring Matsuzaka to Boston in style

matsuzakawave.jpg
AP photo
Daisuke Matsuzaka waves to the press after arriving at Hanscom Airport in Bedford, Mass., today.


It's usually the catcher who makes the signs. But this afternoon, Daisuke Matsuzaka may have made one to the press, after a 4-hour, 43-minute flight from California to Massachusetts with top Red Sox officials.

TheJapanese pitching star landed at 5:16 p.m. at Hanscom Field in suburban Bedford after the flight from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif., aboard the Dassault Mystere 900 tri-jet of Boston owner John Henry, with a big Red Sox logo on its tail.

Red Sox chairman Tom Werner, president Larry Lucchino and general manager Theo Epstein were seen coming off the plane with Matsuzaka and agent Scott Boras in a light rain. An SUV and two sedans were waiting on the tarmac along with a police cruiser with flashing lights.

Several dozen fans were on hand to great Matsuzaka, who waved and smiled as he was driven away from the airport to Boston. He appeared surprised by the fans and media presence.

In prior days, agent Scott Boras had said he would not allow Matsuzaka to travel to Boston for a physical unless the sides had reached a preliminary agreement. People on both sides said today that agreement is near on a $52 million, six-year contract.

More from the Associated Press ...

Sox unveil new shortstop Lugo
Posted 5:35 p.m.

BOSTON — In the time it took the plane carrying Daisuke Matsuzaka to cross Illinois at 41,000 feet today, the Boston Red Sox unveiled their new shortstop, Julio Lugo, leadoff hitter and best buddy for All-Star slugger David Ortiz.

“Me and David are very close friends,” said free agent Lugo, who played against Ortiz in the minor leagues and in the offseasons at home in the Dominican Republic. “He said, ’We’ve got to get you here.’ ”

The Red Sox agreed to terms with Lugo and right fielder J.D. Drew at the baseball winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., last week, but needed to give the players their physicals before it was official. Drew’s contract hasn’t been finalized yet, in part because general manager Theo Epstein and agent Scott Boras have been haggling over Matsuzaka.

“Scott and Theo have been pretty busy with some other stuff,” assistant general manager Jed Hoyer said. “The whole group is at (41,000) feet right now. Other than that, I have no comment.”

Also today, the Red Sox agreed to terms with backup catcher Doug Mirabelli, pending a physical.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 6:37 PM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.




Remember Me?

(you may use HTML tags for style)
ADVERTISING


ProJo 7 to 7
Nov « Dec 2006 » Jan
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
    1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31    
Archived headlines

Archived
ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006