With an announcement yesterday, Mariners' GM Bill Bavasi made it official that the team will not engage in the bidding war for the recently posted Japanese starter Daisuke Matsuzaka. This with the approval of majority owner emeritus Hiroshi Yamauchi, who generally has the last word on whether the team will, or will not, pursue Japanese talent for the team.

The feeling is that, though he has an excellent record in the Japanese leagues, Matsuzaka could turn out to be another Hideo Nomo or Hideki Irabu in the majors--which is to say, "not a good fit," not to mention the uncertainty of his arm health, what with all of the innings pitched and high pitch counts he is known for in Japan.

Scuttlebutt around here has it that this is just a "ploy to get the other teams who are interested in the pitcher's services to drop their posting bids below the projected $30MM level," in order to have an inside track. 

Or, it could be that, with Scott Boras as his American agent, Daisuke will price himself out of the market this year, not sign an American contract, and return to play one more year in Japan before becoming an unrestricted free agent next year, at which point any and all teams in the majors could negotiate for his services without the high cost of the posting fees to the Seibu Lions, his current team. In which case, the M's could/would be right back in the thick of things next year.

As for pitching needs this year, if $30MM is not spent on bidding for Matsuzaka, it is likely that Schmidt, Zito and Eaton will be at the top of the M's wish list. Schmidt and Eaton are "hometown boys," and Schmidt has expressed a desire to return home to play out his career. Eaton is somewhat younger, but might want to return to his Pacific Northwest roots.  Only time will tell.