The numbers say this about Matsuzaka: After leading Japan to the title as the MVP of the World Baseball Classic, he went 17-6 with a 2.13 ERA, and struck out 200 in 186.1 innings for Seibu. Over the last four seasons, he is 57-31 with season ERAs of 2.13, 2.30, 2.90, 2.83, and 768 strikeouts in 741.1 innings. Talent evaluators see a five-pitch pitcher with a fastball in the low-to-mid-90s and the ability to throw any pitch in any count.

With Matsuzaka joining Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon and Tim Wakefield, the Red Sox will have a rotation that not only is significantly better than the Yankees’ current one, but could be one of the best in the game.

They also are expected to offer J.D. Drew a contract much larger than the three years and $33 million he just walked away from. Julio Lugo, an underrated offensive middle-infielder, also could be signed as a free agent to play either shortstop or second base. The additions could set up deals involving Matt Clement and/or Coco Crisp for a closer and to fill other needs.

And there is the cost-reducing possibility of a handful of quality young talent on the payroll in second baseman Dustin Pedroia and relievers Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen, along with Papelbon.

CNBC VIDEO Red Sox offer $51.1 million for Japanese pitcher Nov. 15: Reversing their pledge to keep the numbers manageable, they splurge to pry Daisuke Matsuzaka away from his current club. Does the deal make business sense? "On the Money's" Darren Rovell reports. CNBC

Ichiro represents the best of what can happen with a proven Japanese League star making the transition to the American major leagues. Hideki Matsui and Tadahito Iguchi are two more shining examples. On the pitching side, Hideo Nomo — who came over on a minor-league contract — Kaz Sazaki had solid careers.

But it doesn’t always work out — just ask the Mets about Kazuo Matsui, the Dodgers about Kaz Ishii, and the Yankees about Hideki Irabu, once called a ‘fat toad’ by George Steinbrenner.

But Matsuzaka is a more talented and proven commodity than anybody who has come before him except Ichiro. Scouting the Pacific Rim now is a part of every team’s operations — unlike when Ichiro made the move — and the World Baseball Classic provided a stage for Matsuzaka’s emergence internationally.

Landing Matsuzaka also could open up valuable sources of talent and revenue for the Red Sox, so this is a deal they need to complete on a couple of levels. They are running out of time with their current cast of veteran stars, and Asia has become the new Latin America in terms of talent flow to the major leagues.

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