Don't Miss It

Don't miss Gordon Edes's excellent story on the Red Sox's years-long pursuit of Daisuke Matsuzaka.

When Henry decided to send his plane to southern California last Monday, the Red Sox logo on the plane's tail was covered. ... The flight plan showed the plane was going not to California but to Houston -- all the better to make snooping eyes believe they were headed for a meeting with the agents for Roger Clemens. ...

It was no accident the Sox waited until the last moment to submit their $51.1 million bid. Call it paranoia, call it well-placed fear, but the Sox were taking no chances the posting process might be rigged. ... They decided they would have to bid high because of their fears there might be an artificially high bid by a team that had an under-the-table agreement with Seibu. ...

About two weeks ago, the Sox made their first offer to Matsuzaka, a six-year, $36 million deal. Boras did not respond. ...

Last Sunday in a conference call, the decision was made to fly to California the next day on Henry's plane. ... Should they call and let Boras know they were coming? Lucchino and Epstein both said no. Call from the plane. Forget it, they decided. Let's just show up. ...

The next day, the Sox presented an improved offer -- six years for $48 million. It was rejected. ...

After dinner, the Sox returned to their hotel. Boras called Epstein. Could the two of them meet alone, he asked. He wanted to make a counteroffer. If it was for more money, don't bother, Epstein said. Boras came, and the counteroffer was indeed for more cash: $66 million for six years. ...

They had checked out of the hotel and Shipley and Epstein were in the car when they called Boras and asked them again to be at the airport. Boras said no. Lucchino got into the car, and they decided to call one more time, but this time delivering the message with more urgency. Be there, or no deal.