9:40am: The Sox have shown no active desire to trade Matsuzaka, notes WEEI's Alex Speier.
7:27am: In his latest column for the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo cites Major League sources in saying that Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has received inquiries on Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Cafardo says Epstein is hesitant to move Matsuzaka because he doesn't want to weaken the depth of starting pitching he's built up for his club without getting a big return. Boston currently has a rotation consisting of Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, and John Lackey, with Tim Wakefield under contract for 2011 as well.
It makes sense that with struggles from some of his starters last season, particularly Beckett, and little available via free agency, Epstein wouldn't want to begin moving starting pitchers. There's also the issue of Matsuzaka's full no-trade clause, which would allow the 30-year-old right-hander to veto a trade to any club.
While Matsuzaka has been the cause of some recent speculation in regards to the Carlos Beltran rumors, it seems as though the odds are stacked against Epstein moving him, or any of his starters for that matter.
