This setting a bad precedent is just a bad argument. All players have their own tailor made deals. They could say yes or no to whatever they want to in any future contract negotiations.

Just give it to him and solve one piece of the puzzle so you can move on to fixing the other 7 or 8 problems with the team.

The Red Sox's policy is that they don't grant "no-trade" clauses to individual players, but they will grant a "no-trade" clause to a class of players. In the case of Jason Varitek, that class of players was something like "32 year old catchers who sign a four year extension after 8 years with the team will receive a no-trade clause." In the case of Matsuzaka the clause went something like "all Japanese pitchers acquired through the posting process and signed to six year contracts will receive a no-trade clause."

I still think that's a ridiculous policy, but if it could bridge the gap between Kenny and Buehrle, I say they should implement something similar, like "all left handers drafted and signed by the organization who sign their second extension at the length of four years will receive a no-trade clause."

Get rid of MB and start seeing empty seats at the Cell.  Great job, KW.  You put together a great bullpen and now you are dragging this mess out.

And the NTC does tie KW's hands. If the Red Sox come to KW and say we'll give you Dice K and Beckett for Buehrle, you can't take it. It just pulls people off of the market-- which increases the value of those who are on the market-- everybody else. So the MLBPA and player agents would generally be in favor of NTC's.

This business is driven by the market. If you want to sign a free agent and 3 other teams are willing to give a NTC, you'll be giving it too or you'll be pulling your offer off the table (or leaving it there unaccepted).

Does anybody know any recent players in MB's situation? Did they get NTC's when they re-upped? That's the market we are dealing with here.

FWIW, I'd like to see MB get the NTC and stay w/ the Sox.

Also, with Konerko taking less money to stay here than he could have gotten with the Angels a season ago, and now Buehrle giving a huge hometown discount, the Sox seem like a team that players want to stay on once here.  On the flipside, there are some teams that have money but it seems as much as they throw it at guys, players just don't want to sign with them (the Orioles come to mind first).  Could the Sox become one of these teams, at least for the immediate future?

For example, if traded, his remaining contract doubles in dollars and additional player option years kick in.  Or MB gets a 10 million dollar bonus if traded.  

Not too many teams would come calling if they had to cough up a $10 million dollar bonus and take on a $24 million dollar a year contract that just had 4 years added to it.

How would he describe the 2007 edition?  A barrel of fun?

well then you say, how many games have you won for this franchise Mr. Hotshit FA, is it over 100?

no?

How many games have you won for this organization in the postseason? How many have you saved?

zero?

ok, yeah, you dont get the no-trade clause.

simple as that.

MB is the best trading chip this team has.
Thats the truth. But he is also going to be the best FA starting pitcher if they dont lock him up. Young durable lefty starters dont grow on trees.