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Red Sox sign Matsuzaka for six year deal

Spending $100 million to sign Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka and form one of the league`s mightiest starting pitchers rotation, what could the Red sox excuse be this year? Certainly not "the Evil Empire" from the Bronx. In a twist of reality and a spending frenzy by the Bostonian club, that term can no longer be used freely without shedding some light over Fenway Park.

On the final day that they were allowed to negotiate with the Japanese pitcher, the Red Sox gave Matsuzaka a $52 million, six-year contract. This adds up to the $51.1 million they will pay his Japanese team, the Seibu Lions. Matsuzaka joins Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, Jonathan Papelbon and Jon Lester as potential starters for Boston.

Red sox manager Terry Francona said, in an understatement, "If guys just do what they`re supposed to do, we`re going to be good." This is the pitching he is talking about. The Red Sox still preset a mighty bat at most positions, especially if Manny Ramirez remains in Boston. Or will the Evil Empire of old get its hands on him?