Tanaka, Likely to be posted---- Let's get ready to rumble!!!!!

[gmsieb]

According to Sanspo.com, Rakuten Golden Eagles owner Hiroshi Mikitani will allow Masahiro Tanaka to be posted this offseason.

The news, though not official, was passed along by Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. There have been some doubts about whether Tanaka would be posted this winter, with one recent report suggesting that the Rakuten Golden Eagles were planning to convince him to stick around for another year, but they will apparently grant him his wish and let him come to MLB. The new posting system has a maximum bid of $20 million, so we'd be surprised if the number of teams involved in negotiations doesn't go over double-digits. The Yankees, Cubs, Angels, Dodgers and Diamondbacks are among the teams expected to be in the mix.

This should be fun to watch, all the big dogs going after one cat. I think the rangers, mariners, and others will be added, probably 10+ teams.

No homer answers.
keep in mind teams that don't want to go over 189. Where does he end up????

 

[gmsieb]

moving up, so the night rush gets a vote.

 

[jcmint]

ny will scoop him up

 

[gmsieb]

jc, i'm not so sure. He is going to be given a lot of money. I'm guessing mariner or dodgers.

Hope the angels make a big run and if they dont get him, raise him up above 15-16mil a year

 

[cwgross144]

Giants

 

[Jaypers]

I'd love to see the Yanks, Dodgers or Cubs grab him (good for his card values), but I have a feeling Towers and his snakes will prevail.

 

[RStadlerASU22]

I'm surprised to see the DBax on that list. It's hard to bet against the big markets on this one. Maybe Sea also if they really want to go all in this off season and with the success of Ichiro there

Ryan

 

[sportscardtheory]

I know the Yankees is always the easiest answer to questions like these, but realistically, the Yankees are probably the best fit and I believe they want him badly. The Dodgers would be a good fit too, so I would say it's between the Yanks and the Blue.

P.S. I wouldn't be shocked if the Red Sox made a push, even though they haven't been in the news very much as "interested".

 

[gmsieb]

I know the Yankees is always the easiest answer to questions like these, but realistically, the Yankees are probably the best fit and I believe they want him badly. The Dodgers would be a good fit too, so I would say it's between the Yanks and the Blue.

P.S. I wouldn't be shocked if the Red Sox made a push, even though they haven't been in the news very much as "interested".

Yah, I meant to add them and couldn't edit it.

 

[gmsieb]

I know the Yankees is always the easiest answer to questions like these, but realistically, the Yankees are probably the best fit and I believe they want him badly. The Dodgers would be a good fit too, so I would say it's between the Yanks and the Blue.

P.S. I wouldn't be shocked if the Red Sox made a push, even though they haven't been in the news very much as "interested".

Yanks may have to go above the 189 to sign him though, not sure they want to do that. Angels will be pretty close too. Most teams save a few mil for in-season trades and the rest. Angels and yanks would be pretty tight, with how I think he will be paid. When this all started, before the new posting rules, I figured, yanks/dodgers/angels, because the posting didnt cost against the cap and they would bid the highest. At that time, it was assumed the high posting would allow him to be signed at a lower price per year. But now, with the low cost of the post, I'm guessing he gets paid big, 15mil+ per year as people bid him up. That may cut things too close for the yanks/angels.

 

[ballerskrip]

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cubs walk away with him. Yes, I am a homer. BUT, I also read many times that Tanaka is the Cubs #1 priority this off season. They will pay out the nose for him, and have the money to do so. The Cubs entire landscape changes with a true #1 anchoring the rotation.

 

[gmsieb]

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cubs walk away with him. Yes, I am a homer. BUT, I also read many times that Tanaka is the Cubs #1 priority this off season. They will pay out the nose for him, and have the money to do so. The Cubs entire landscape changes with a true #1 anchoring the rotation.

It may well be. I am starting to think the cubs, mariners, dbacks, etc, may have more money to spend, right now, with the big dogs, not wanting to go over the 189 mil.

Cubs wouldn't shock me at all and have had a few of his countrymen there already.

 

[Musial Collector]

Team on the left coast gets him, that's where i would put my money.

 

[maxe0213]

Yanks may have to go above the 189 to sign him though, not sure they want to do that. Angels will be pretty close too. Most teams save a few mil for in-season trades and the rest. Angels and yanks would be pretty tight, with how I think he will be paid. When this all started, before the new posting rules, I figured, yanks/dodgers/angels, because the posting didnt cost against the cap and they would bid the highest. At that time, it was assumed the high posting would allow him to be signed at a lower price per year. But now, with the low cost of the post, I'm guessing he gets paid big, 15mil+ per year as people bid him up. That may cut things too close for the yanks/angels.

Have you followed the Yanks at all this offseason? Hal has said that the Yanks 189 mil is a goal but not a mandate like was originally thought. Tanaka has been their number one priority and have gone after other players this offseason while saving money for Tanaka. Most in the Yanks org. believe that they will not be able to get under 189 unless ARod is gone all year and they aren't going to miss out on Tanaka to get a few million under the cap vs a few million over. The rest of the pitching market is awful.

It has nothing to do with 189 anymore for the Yanks.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cubs walk away with him. Yes, I am a homer. BUT, I also read many times that Tanaka is the Cubs #1 priority this off season. They will pay out the nose for him, and have the money to do so. The Cubs entire landscape changes with a true #1 anchoring the rotation.

I agree. I think the Cubs will go after him hard. If they land him for a bunch of years with all that minor league depth that could be scary.


Its between the Yanks, Cubs, Dodgers and Mariners right now. With the DBacks, Angels, Rangers, Red Sox all lurking either to drive up the price or to jump in if the end contract looks "affordable" for them. I expect a few dark horses but I would be very very surprised if he's not with the Yanks, Cubs, or Dodgers at the end of this and I think as of right now its very foolish to bet against the Yanks in this scenario.

One other key right now: Hiroki Kuroda. Thats a HUGE chip the Yankees have vs many other teams. Dodgers have Ryu as well but making the transition is hard and the Dodgers and Yankees have guys that have made the transition VERY well.

 

[joey12508]

Yanks need a good starting pitcher really bad. No andy no Mo in the bullpen. I see them going all out on this 80 to 90 million.

 

[gmsieb]

Again, we will have to disagree. I don't see the yanks as the clear favorite. Doesnt mean, they can't/wont sign him. Plenty of teams with money and reasons to go there. Im an angels fan, I think the angels have the same shot as the yanks. They both have money, they both have an owner who will spend. I think the favorites are the dodgers and mariners, and the other will all have to try to out bid them. The winner may end up paying 15-17mil per, for a guy who has never pitched here. It could get really ugly.

And, it's ok, we don't have to agree. It's what makes it fun.


Remember it's baseball, a hobby, entertainment, and a game.
Get too serious about it, and it ruins all the fun.

 

[aarne13]

Keep in mind that the highest offer might not necessarily be the one that wins. Tanaka could take less to play for a preferred team. Regardless he will probably make more than Darvish .

 

[CatdaddysCards]

So, how do the new posting rules work? I haven't read up on it. Everyone that wants to pony up the $20 mil gets to negotiate?

 

[aarne13]

So, how do the new posting rules work? I haven't read up on it. Everyone that wants to pony up the $20 mil gets to negotiate?

Ding!

 

[HPC]

From the Dbacks perspective, sure, it would be nice to have him, but the feeling is that he is going to want a 5+ year deal.

Talk going around is that Towers doesn't want to go more than 2 years on most starting pitching. 3 years is an option on Garza they've been saying, though.

It doesnt make sense to sign Tanaka to a long term, high salary deal either if youre the Dbacks.

Let the Dodgers or Yankees take the risk there and acquire a starting pitcher via trade or free agency.