Article: Matsuzaka arrives in Boston, closes in on deal with Red Sox

BOSTON - The $51.11 million the Red Sox offered to pay for the rights to Daisuke Matsuzaka was enough to get the Japanese ace across the Pacific Ocean.

It took that much again, and a little more, to fly him the rest of the way to Boston.

Bridging the economic gap in the most expensive cultural exchange in baseball history, the Red Sox neared an agreement Wednesday with Matsuzaka on a six-year contract that would guarantee him a minimum of $52 million. With $100 million on the table, the two sides flew back to Boston on Red Sox owner John Henry's private plane.

"You should assume a deal is close or done," an official with knowledge of the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity ...

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