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Major League Baseball is in the infancy stage of another offseason and that means ball clubs are revving up their checkbooks. Every year there are several teams that dole out millions of dollars for overpriced free agents. In just a few days, it appears that this offseason will be no different.

On Wednesday, the Red Sox were the highest bidders in the race to sign Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. The BoSox ante was $51 million for first rights to sign Matsuzaka. Can anyone say Hideki Irabu, Hideo Nomo and Chan Ho Park? Boston is also apparently interested in former Dodgers outfield J.D. Drew. Drew’s price tag is reportedly four years for $56 million. If the Red Sox sign him that means that they were willing to spend more on Drew then they were on Johnny Damon, who wanted four years and $40 million. Interesting, considering that Drew is just as injury-prone and is only two years younger than Damon.

The Mercury News is reporting that the Padres are interested in Barry Bonds. Bonds’ price tag might be somewhere in the $15 million range for one season. Lets see, last time I checked San Diego was still in the National League. So, that means that Bonds would still have to play in the outfield on two bad knees and a chicken wing for a left arm. For only $15 million! Where do I sign?

Two guys that are going to bank after having just one good season are Frank Thomas and Gary Matthews Jr. ESPN.com is reporting that Thomas is set to sign a two-year deal with the Blue Jays that could exceed $30 million. Sounds like a lot for a DH who just choked mightily in the ALCS with what? No hits? And I guarantee you that Matthews fools some sucker into giving him millions on for that .313, 19 HR, 79 RBI season he is coming off of. Never mind the fact that the guy is a career .263 hitter.

More to follow as more wallets widen.

The Boston Globe is reporting that the Red Sox won the right to negotiate a contract with Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. Boston’s winning bid of $51 million trumped its most hated rivals, the New York Yankees.

“If they can sign him, they’ve got the best pitcher in the market, and he may be the best pitcher in baseball when all is said and done,” said one American League general manager last night. “He’s got five outstanding pitches.

“Coming over from Japan where he threw a lot of innings and had 18 complete games [including playoffs], I would think this would seem like a vacation to him. It’s a lot of money, but if you have it, why not use it on a kid like this? The Yankees have to be sick about this.”

Why would the Yankees be sick? Because they might miss out on the next Hideki Irabu, Chan Ho Park or Hideo Nomo? One of Matsuzaka’s five pitches is called a gyro-ball. Apparently, this gyro-ball is supposed to “disappear” at some point on the way to plate. Riiiiiiight. Trust me, major league hitters will eventually figure this guy out, just like they figured out Nomo’s awkward pitching motion and whatever Park brought to the table when he first came to America. Matsuzaka may fool hitters for half a season or maybe even an entire year, but it won’t last.

Instead of trying to outbid the Red Sox, why don’t the Yankees actually take the time to find the next Francisco Liriano, Dontrelle Willis or even Carlos Zambrano in their farm system?