Yankees Sign Masahiro Tanaka

[imb]

im still shocked that gabe kapler isnt a dumbass meathead

[KingCubsFan]

$125 million for a #2 or #3 starter in the AL East is ridiculous. I'd rather go after Hamels.

I'm guessing Amaro would want one of Baez, Soler or Almora.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

$125 million for a #2 or #3 starter in the AL East is ridiculous. I'd rather go after Hamels.

I'm guessing Amaro would want one of Baez, Soler or Almora.

Given that Amaro is trying to win now and probably has no clue who any of those prospects are, I'd imagine he'd ask for all 3 just by default.

[pitchcs]

$125 million for a #2 or #3 starter in the AL East is ridiculous. I'd rather go after Hamels.

I'm guessing Amaro would want one of Baez, Soler or Almora.

 

 

Done.

[Brian]

Is the foregoing of the posting process, and just having the winner pay the $20 million after it's over just because it was obvious several teams were going to bid the max? All foreign players going through this posting process aren't going to cost $20 million right? There will be lesser prospects that will still go through the bidding process and one team will win with a $5 million bid or whatever, right?

[Guest]

Is the foregoing of the posting process, and just having the winner pay the $20 million after it's over just because it was obvious several teams were going to bid the max? All foreign players going through this posting process aren't going to cost $20 million right? There will be lesser prospects that will still go through the bidding process and one team will win with a $5 million bid or whatever, right?

 

No. I believe the team posting the player just sets the amount. Otherwise, I can't imagine that it would be so informal that they'd just skip a portion of the process because everyone is probably going to bid $20M on Tanaka.

[Guest]

im still shocked that gabe kapler isnt a dumbass meathead

 

Oh man, that was my first thought too.

[North]

im still shocked that gabe kapler isnt a dumbass meathead

 

Kapler is going to be an awesome coach one day. I'm disappointed he was never considered for the Cubs job.

[imb]

im still shocked that gabe kapler isnt a dumbass meathead

 

Kapler is going to be an awesome coach one day. I'm disappointed he was never considered for the Cubs job.

 

considering our current coach attends press conferences in a wheel chair or whatever, i'd say there's still a chance

[Backtobanks]

im still shocked that gabe kapler isnt a dumbass meathead

 

Kapler is going to be an awesome coach one day. I'm disappointed he was never considered for the Cubs job.

 

considering our current coach attends press conferences in a wheel chair or whatever, i'd say there's still a chance

 

And that's before dealing with our roster. :lol:

[ctcf]

Wait... Wheelchair? What now?

[UMFan83]

Wait... Wheelchair? What now?

 

He had hip surgery well before he was named Cubs manager. He did his first PC over the phone and then came to Chicago last month to do some press and was in a wheelchair, still recovering.

[Cubswin11]

Wait... Wheelchair? What now?

Ricketts got a federal tax credit for hiring and employing a disabled senior citizen to manage the team

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Well, no matter what condition our manager is in, I don't think he's going to be managing Tanaka.

 

I had huge hope early on, and this is the one guy that makes perfect sense for our team. But with the Yanks and Dodgers after him among a few others, we aren't getting him. I'm an idiot for thinking otherwise.

[Boris]

HAVE A LITTLE FAITH MAN

[Gilby]

Well, no matter what condition our manager is in, I don't think he's going to be managing Tanaka.

 

I had huge hope early on, and this is the one guy that makes perfect sense for our team. But with the Yanks and Dodgers after him among a few others, we aren't getting him. I'm an idiot for thinking otherwise.

 

Not that I'm counting on getting him, but I'd say my expectations are a little higher now than they were before. The Yanks and Dodgers (LA hasn't been talked about much lately though) have always been linked to him, so that's nothing new. But I do like the amount of people who have listed the Cubs as serious players.

[NewUserName]

Well, no matter what condition our manager is in, I don't think he's going to be managing Tanaka.

 

I had huge hope early on, and this is the one guy that makes perfect sense for our team. But with the Yanks and Dodgers after him among a few others, we aren't getting him. I'm an idiot for thinking otherwise.

 

Not that I'm counting on getting him, but I'd say my expectations are a little higher now than they were before. The Yanks and Dodgers (LA hasn't been talked about much lately though) have always been linked to him, so that's nothing new. But I do like the amount of people who have listed the Cubs as serious players.

I think if they can somehow sell him on the idea that his first season in MLB will be with less expectations with the Cubs than the Yankees or Dodgers. Gives him a season to get his feet under him. The Cubs are in great position moving forward to contend with prospects to develop and trade. And hopefully money to spend. Then he can have a chance to be part of probably the biggest sports story of this century so far when the Cubs win a WS.

[Irrelevant Dude]

I had huge hope early on, and this is the one guy that makes perfect sense for our team. But with the Yanks and Dodgers after him among a few others, we aren't getting him. I'm an idiot for thinking otherwise.

I'm not convinced that the Yankees are willing to spend what it is going to take to sign Tanaka. Aren't they trying to stay under the luxury tax threshold to avoid increased penalties? There is no telling what the Dodgers will do though. If they really want Tanaka, they will probably get him.

[CubsWin]

I had huge hope early on, and this is the one guy that makes perfect sense for our team. But with the Yanks and Dodgers after him among a few others, we aren't getting him. I'm an idiot for thinking otherwise.

I'm not convinced that the Yankees are willing to spend what it is going to take to sign Tanaka. Aren't they trying to stay under the luxury tax threshold to avoid increased penalties? There is no telling what the Dodgers will do though. If they really want Tanaka, they will probably get him.

You're correct. If they don't get under the luxury tax limit this season, they will be paying 50% tax on any salary over the limit. Last season they paid 40% and it amounted to $29.1 million. That's a lot of money to spend to get nothing in return. If they do get under the limit for one season, the next time they exceed the limit, the tax rate resets to just 17.5%. So the Yankees have the motivation to spend wisely this off season. Whether they will or not is yet to be seen. If ARod gets suspended, it frees them up to spend on Tanaka.

 

The Dodgers are a whole different matter. Apparently, Tanaka wants to play on the west coast. That makes perfect sense, it being a lot closer to his home. LA will be paying 30% on any overages in this coming season. If the Yankees say [expletive] it, they will be just as powerful a suitor financially as the Dodgers, but I'd definitely handicap the Dodgers as the most likely destination right now. One thing could change all that, though. We assume they have the money, but do they want to spend it when they already have a deep rotation and will have to shell out so much next season to keep Kershaw.

 

The Yankees want to stay under the luxury cap, the Dodgers have to deal with Kershaw, and the Cubs are highly motivated and have the financial flexibility that those other teams don't. This should be interesting...

[A New Era]

interesting. . . I hope it has a good ending.

[davell]

If the Yanks wind up having to pay A-Rod, they can still add a pair of SP for around 35 mill per year combined and pay less in luxury tax than what they did in 2013, even with the higher percentage owed.

[Irrelevant Dude]

If the Yanks wind up having to pay A-Rod, they can still add a pair of SP for around 35 mill per year combined and pay less in luxury tax than what they did in 2013, even with the higher percentage owed.

Wouldn't that also have implications for them beyond next season?

[davell]

If the Yanks wind up having to pay A-Rod, they can still add a pair of SP for around 35 mill per year combined and pay less in luxury tax than what they did in 2013, even with the higher percentage owed.

Wouldn't that also have implications for them beyond next season?

Yeah, but they'll lose some salary next year as well. Weaker free agent class too, they could just make next year the one they reset with, since the class is even weaker than this years.

[Guest]

Going off the list of suitors that have come up on MLBTR:

 

Yankees

+ If they decide the luxury tax is okay, they can give him a ton of cash

+ They're the Yankees, with all the prestige that goes with it

+ They have a lot of motivation, as they need to add wins and the rotation has holes

- If they're at all serious about avoiding the luxury tax, they can't really pay Tanaka

- If Tanaka wants to be "the guy", he may not want to be the 10th most popular player on the Yankees

- The Yankees, for all their spending, don't project to be all that good, especially in the hyper-competitive AL East

 

Dodgers

+ If they want to, they can give him whatever price he wants

+ West coast based

+ Maybe the best overall team of the potential suitors

- They don't really have a great need for Tanaka, with Kershaw/Greinke/Ryu/Beckett/Haren/Billingsley

- Like with NYY, if Tanaka wants to be "the guy", he may not want to be the potential 3-4 starter on the Dodgers

 

Diamondbacks

+ Would be a marquee addition and definitely lead the rotation/team in starpower

+ Recently competitive and in a weaker division, could be seen as an easier way to perennial playoff appearances

- Have a full rotation with Corbin/Cahill/Miley/McCarthy/Delgado plus Bradley on the way

- Not sure if they have the financial resources to be a serious player for Tanaka

- I'm not aware of any Asian/Japanese players that would be a part of the clubhouse, he would be on an island in that sense

+/- Kevin Towers may decide that Tanaka is worth 4/120 or 2/10

 

Mariners

+ West coast and strong cultural connection, could play with former teammate Iwakuma

+ Jack Z has been making statement moves, can't rule out making a big play

- Even with Tanaka, the Mariners are the 3rd best team in their division

- Tanaka would be 2nd fiddle to Felix in the rotation(plus Cano in the field) if that matters to him

- There's rumblings that the Mariners don't have the financial resources to get Tanaka, slightly corroborated by their minimal interest in Choo and interest in Price rather than FA SP options

 

Boston

+ Play on the best team in MLB last year that should be really good again this year

+ Have the financial resources to give him the contract he wants

- Haven't been strongly linked to Tanaka in the rumor mill, may not have much interest

- No immediate need in the rotation with Lester/Dempster/Peavy/Buchholz/Lackey plus a bunch of prospects

 

Texas

+ Really good team that would probably be the definitive AL West favorites with Tanaka in tow

+ Daniels has been making win-now moves(Choo, Garza), and may feel that Tanaka is necessary for the AL arms race

+ Kindred spirit in Darvish having gone through the same process and pressure

- Rumor is they don't have the resources to pay Tanaka after signing Choo

- Tanaka may not want to be 2nd fiddle to Darvish

- No immediate rotation need with Darvish/Holland/Harrison/Perez/Tepesch/Ogando/Feliz

 

Cubs

+ Big market team, would be a marquee addition and at the top of the roster in star-power, "guy who broke the curse" nonsense

+ Appear to be heavily interested and have resources to pay him as much as anyone if last year's payroll is attainable

- Not as strong a team as some other suitors although closer than casual perspective might think for others(e.g. Yankees)

- Front office has lost out on similar players for principled stands on negotiations(e.g. 4 years to Cespedes)

 

Others

Twins - No, they likely lose out to other teams on most every factor, Tanaka strikes out too many guys for them anyway

Phillies - Amaro may try to come in guns a blazin, but there's a lot of teams interested in paying big money and the Phillies are bad and will be bad for a while

Astros - Could be the "mystery team" everyone enjoys, but were so historically bad it'll be a hard sell when everyone will be in a similar $$ range

 

Bottom line, if you believe the rumors about the Cubs interest(I have no reason not to), I think you have to feel relatively good about their chances. The external factors will be if non-money factors weigh heavily for Tanaka, and if another team decides to blow things up with an astronomical contract. I'm not one to set specific odds, but the Dodgers, Cubs, and Yankees seem like the 3 most likely destinations to me.

[jersey cubs fan]

Diamondbacks

+ Would be a marquee addition and definitely lead the rotation/team in starpower

+ Recently competitive and in a weaker division, could be seen as an easier way to perennial playoff appearances

- Have a full rotation with Corbin/Cahill/Miley/McCarthy/Delgado plus Skaggs/Bradley on the way

- Not sure if they have the financial resources to be a serious player for Tanaka

- I'm not aware of any Asian/Japanese players that would be a part of the clubhouse, he would be on an island in that sense

+/- Kevin Towers may decide that Tanaka is worth 4/120 or 2/10

 

More importantly you have to figure out how willing he is to hit opposing batters.