Matsuzaka Completes Deal to Red Sox [David Stefanini]

Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Soxs have agreed in part to a 6 year, $52 million dollar contract. If the hype is right about this guy, the Red Soxs may have the finest starting line-up in the AL.

Today, the Red Soxs gave Matsuzaka jersey number 18 in his first public appearance since finalizing the deal. The jersey number is the one which Johnny Damon used, coincidence? I think not.

Matsuzaka would be the ace followed by Curt "Big Game" Schilling, Josh Beckett, and untouchable closer turned start, Jonathan Papelbon.

I feel it is important now more than ever for the Red Soxs to keep Manny. They have the pitching that World Champions are built of and if they can keep Manny and Ortiz hitting back-to-back in the middle of the line-up, they will also have the hitting that championship teams have.

If they keep Manny, the Red Soxs will be my choice to win the World Series in the upcoming season.