Paul Godfrey, the Toronto Blue Jays' chief operating officer, says he and others were stunned at the Red Sox' $51.1-million bid for the rights to Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka.

"That's a ridiculous sum to pay out for the right to bargain," Godfrey told the Toronto Star. "To me, it makes zero sense."

The Matsuzaka bidding did not happen in a void. It mushroomed into a boom market because the Seibu Lions' right-hander is the lone true No. 1 starter available in the current market.

What isn't being said is the Red Sox and both New York teams -- which bid more than $30 million for the rights to Matsuzaka -- are not sold on the two best American free-agent starters, Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt. No one really is, although two teams are going to spend a lot of money to take a chance on them.

The Red Sox, Mets and Yankees think it made more sense to spend $20 million a year, or more, on Matsuzaka, than to invest $15 million-plus a year on Zito and Schmidt, who appear to be No. 2 starters, not true dominators. The Cubs, among other teams, believe the value in the pitching market is found in the second tier.

Scott Boras, who represents Matsuzaka, and the Red Sox have vowed to keep negotiations quiet. Most executives believe Boras would like to sign Matsuzaka for only three or four years. But would Matsuzaka return to Japan rather than sign for five or six years? Probably not.

The size of Boston's bid might not have been quite as large if the $51.1 million counted as payroll, which would have made it subject to the luxury tax. But posting fees are considered a business expense and thus aren't covered.

Godfrey would like to see that changed.

"Obviously, if this is going to take place in the future, there's a flaw in the whole luxury-tax system," Godfrey said. "This distorts the economics of the game. It can distort the competitive balance. I'm not saying the Red Sox pulled a fast one. They played by the rules, but . . . there's a hole in the net."

You wonder if Godfrey would have been as upset if a team from any division except the American League East had wound up with the rights to Matsuzaka.

"They, obviously, have bottomless pits (of money), but that doesn't guarantee them winning," Godfrey said of the Red Sox and Yankees. "Boston spent a lot more than we did last year and didn't get ahead of us, so, obviously, they're throwing more money against the wall and hoping some of it sticks. Sooner or later, all they're going to do is drive the league into making further changes in future collective bargaining."

Big holes to fill

The Red Sox are officially in the market for a shortstop, since Alex Gonzalez yesterday signed the three-year, $14-million contract he'd agreed upon over the weekend with the Cincinnati Reds.

They're also looking elsewhere for relief help, since one of their reported offseason targets -- Justin Speier of the Toronto Blue Jays -- agreed to terms on a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, a deal worth about $18 million and contingent on the 33-year-old passing a physical.

But they're not looking to fill those holes by trading Manny Ramirez. Not yet, anyway.

The New York Daily News reported yesterday that the Angels and Red Sox were "exploring" a deal involving Ramirez. But sources with knowledge of the situation said the Sox had not talked trade with the Angels.

Annual shortcoming

The Sox have had to acquire a new shortstop every offseason since they sent Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs at the trading deadline in 2004. That winter, after choosing not to re-sign Orlando Cabrera (who'd come to Boston as part of the Garciaparra deal), the Sox acquired Edgar Renteria via free agency. Renteria had a disappointing 2005 and was subsequently traded to Atlanta, prompting the Sox to sign Gonzalez as a free agent last winter. Now they're looking again.

According to published reports, the Sox and Rangers began preliminary discussions about a Ramirez-for-Michael Young trade several weeks ago, but that deal was thought to have lost steam when Texas fired Buck Showalter -- a big Ramirez booster -- as manager. However, various media outlers are reporting Texas may kick the tires on Ramirez again.

A little housekeeping

In other news, the Sox added Kyle Jackson and Phil Seibel to their major-league roster yesterday. Jackson's contract was purchased from Double-A Portland of the Eastern League.

Jackson, a 23-year-old right-hander, was 6-0 with a 1.59 E.R.A. and one save in 24 relief appearances at Single-A Wilmington and 3-1 with a 2.45 E.R.A. and one save in 22 outings at Double-A Portland in 2006.

Seibel's contract was purchased from Triple-A Pawtucket of the International League. The left-hander, 27, combined for a 6-3 record and 1.24 ERA in 22 games and 12 starts for three Red Sox farm clubs in 2006. He joined Pawtucket in July and was 2-0 with a 1.20 E.R.A. in nine relief outings the rest of the year.

The Red Sox also activated right-hander Matt Clement, left-hander Jon Lester and right-hander David Pauley from the 60-day disabled list. Lefty Abe Alvarez was assigned outright to Pawtucket after his activation from the 60-day disabled list.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.