Yankees Sign Masahiro Tanaka

[Rob]

 

Actually, this board has been pretty clearly divided over the Cubs' spending for a long time.

 

 

I still don't buy this. Sure, there were people that didn't want to spend money on Pujols or Fielder or Darvish or Sanchez or Upton etc... But I think those were just individual evaluations on those players. I don't think there's ever really been a faction of this board that is dead set against spending on any big free agents.

 

As to the rumored Tanaka money, I'm not thrilled about spending that much on a pitcher. But we've got an obvious hole at the top end of the rotation. We don't look to be able to fill that internally and I'd much rather spend money to fill it than give away potential superstar prospects. There's room in the payroll and there's nobody on the horizon who would appear to be a better target for the money.

 

Back up the truck.

[Boris]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VXA60br7_KM/UgUHrODc6vI/AAAAAAAA-d0/lTT3jpFzSNk/s1600/Russian_Truck_Driver.gif

[davell]

Japanese source tells Levine that Tanaka loves a challenge and wants to be the man.

 

Boner.

[Guest]

Plus money is soon going to grow on TV trees so who cares

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Japanese source tells Levine that Tanaka loves a challenge and wants to be the man.

 

Boner.

 

Confirmation-bias-induced interpretation: Laying the groundwork to explain why he's choosing Cubs.

[Irrelevant Dude]

I am extremely paranoid that this "Cubs are the lead team" talk is all to use the Cubs offer as leverage to get one of the west coast teams to up the ante. I hope my paranoia is unjustified.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

Actually, this board has been pretty clearly divided over the Cubs' spending for a long time.

 

 

I still don't buy this. Sure, there were people that didn't want to spend money on Pujols or Fielder or Darvish or Sanchez or Upton etc... But I think those were just individual evaluations on those players. I don't think there's ever really been a faction of this board that is dead set against spending on any big free agents.

 

As to the rumored Tanaka money, I'm not thrilled about spending that much on a pitcher. But we've got an obvious hole at the top end of the rotation. We don't look to be able to fill that internally and I'd much rather spend money to fill it than give away potential superstar prospects. There's room in the payroll and there's nobody on the horizon who would appear to be a better target for the money.

 

Back up the truck.

 

 

 

While it would be cool to figure out a way to win without spending big on pitchers, I actually am thrilled about the idea of spending it on Tanaka. Because that's what teams with money do, and what teams without money wish they could do. The trajectory is already set. This is happening whether we like it or not. The money is insane. And if you want to play with the big boys you have to be willing to spend what we think are insane numbers (but are actually easily affordable figures for business with guaranteed future revenue streams).

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I am extremely paranoid that this "Cubs are the lead team" talk is all to use the Cubs offer as leverage to get one of the west coast teams to up the ante. I hope my paranoia is unjustified.

 

It's definitely a reasonable fear.

[bhogg]

This is almost as exciting as signing Danny Jackson and Dave smith!

[SouthSideRyan]

Matsuzaka was sidelined by injuries. If that's your concern, fine, but to say he was "underwhelming" like he was a bust in terms of performance isn't accurate; he kicked ass his first two years and then got hurt.

 

Injuries are part of my concern, sure. No matter the reason, the BoSox lost their ass on Matsuzaka. A total of 2 quality seasons for more than $102M spent.

 

It wouldn't worry me as much if I thought the Cubs would throw money at the problem if it didn't work out the way they hoped. But if he's a bust, I have the feeling the Cubs would allow it to hamper future negotiations. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's my fear.

 

And just for the record, I'd love for Tanaka to be a Cub no matter the cost. I'm just worried about what happens to the team as a whole and the approach going forward if Tanaka where to bomb.

 

It's just an inherent risk when you sign a big FA, especially a pitcher. The Cubs are in the position where they need to spend to acquire someone like him. He's young, they desperately need starting pitching, they have money to spend, there's this rumored TV deal..it's all good.

 

I agree with this. He's the proper guy to get.

 

However, this board always thinks we should spend whatever it takes to get everybody. But I always try to point out that you can't have everybody, so you better be really happy with the one or two we eventually get. (I know about the Dodgers, we aren't them).

 

So, when people wanted Albert Pujols, that's your ticket. You don't get him and three others the next three years. I really, really don't believe anybody would be happy with Albert and the remainder of his contract just a few years in.

 

Instead you prefer nobody all three years?

[SouthSideRyan]

Give him 49% ownership of the team as well.

 

If we sign him to that contract he'll have more money that @poortomricketts. (Getting them in before the tv deal)

 

You should probably make @richtomricketts as a contingency if the TV deal goes through and start having twitter wars with @poortomricketts.

 

Who do you think you're dealing with here? I've had it for a few days now.

[SouthSideRyan]

 

Actually, this board has been pretty clearly divided over the Cubs' spending for a long time.

 

 

I still don't buy this. Sure, there were people that didn't want to spend money on Pujols or Fielder or Darvish or Sanchez or Upton etc... But I think those were just individual evaluations on those players. I don't think there's ever really been a faction of this board that is dead set against spending on any big free agents.

 

 

Yeah, people weren't dead set against spending money on any big free agents, they were just dead set on spending the money it took to actually acquire big free agents.

[davell]

Matsuzaka was sidelined by injuries. If that's your concern, fine, but to say he was "underwhelming" like he was a bust in terms of performance isn't accurate; he kicked ass his first two years and then got hurt.

 

Injuries are part of my concern, sure. No matter the reason, the BoSox lost their ass on Matsuzaka. A total of 2 quality seasons for more than $102M spent.

 

It wouldn't worry me as much if I thought the Cubs would throw money at the problem if it didn't work out the way they hoped. But if he's a bust, I have the feeling the Cubs would allow it to hamper future negotiations. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's my fear.

 

And just for the record, I'd love for Tanaka to be a Cub no matter the cost. I'm just worried about what happens to the team as a whole and the approach going forward if Tanaka where to bomb.

 

It's just an inherent risk when you sign a big FA, especially a pitcher. The Cubs are in the position where they need to spend to acquire someone like him. He's young, they desperately need starting pitching, they have money to spend, there's this rumored TV deal..it's all good.

 

I agree with this. He's the proper guy to get.

 

However, this board always thinks we should spend whatever it takes to get everybody. But I always try to point out that you can't have everybody, so you better be really happy with the one or two we eventually get. (I know about the Dodgers, we aren't them).

 

So, when people wanted Albert Pujols, that's your ticket. You don't get him and three others the next three years. I really, really don't believe anybody would be happy with Albert and the remainder of his contract just a few years in.

 

Instead you prefer nobody all three years?

I want that 8 foot, 3 inch, 110 pound Sudanese pitcher that throws rocks 165 MPH, but has yet to hear of a baseball yet.

[NewUserName]

This is almost as exciting as signing Danny Jackson and Dave smith!

AND GEORGE BELL!! I was sooo excited at the time

[Guest]

I want that 8 foot, 3 inch, 110 pound Sudanese pitcher that throws rocks 165 MPH, but has yet to hear of a baseball yet.

 

Parks thinks that guy winds up a reliever. Pass.

[Rob]

 

Actually, this board has been pretty clearly divided over the Cubs' spending for a long time.

 

 

I still don't buy this. Sure, there were people that didn't want to spend money on Pujols or Fielder or Darvish or Sanchez or Upton etc... But I think those were just individual evaluations on those players. I don't think there's ever really been a faction of this board that is dead set against spending on any big free agents.

 

 

Yeah, people weren't dead set against spending money on any big free agents, they were just dead set on spending the money it took to actually acquire big free agents.

 

I've yet to see anybody who was against signing any of the big name guys. The fact there's some negativity about signing every major free agent doesn't mean it's the same guys complaining every single time.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Matsuzaka was sidelined by injuries. If that's your concern, fine, but to say he was "underwhelming" like he was a bust in terms of performance isn't accurate; he kicked ass his first two years and then got hurt.

 

Injuries are part of my concern, sure. No matter the reason, the BoSox lost their ass on Matsuzaka. A total of 2 quality seasons for more than $102M spent.

 

It wouldn't worry me as much if I thought the Cubs would throw money at the problem if it didn't work out the way they hoped. But if he's a bust, I have the feeling the Cubs would allow it to hamper future negotiations. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's my fear.

 

And just for the record, I'd love for Tanaka to be a Cub no matter the cost. I'm just worried about what happens to the team as a whole and the approach going forward if Tanaka where to bomb.

 

It's just an inherent risk when you sign a big FA, especially a pitcher. The Cubs are in the position where they need to spend to acquire someone like him. He's young, they desperately need starting pitching, they have money to spend, there's this rumored TV deal..it's all good.

 

I agree with this. He's the proper guy to get.

 

However, this board always thinks we should spend whatever it takes to get everybody. But I always try to point out that you can't have everybody, so you better be really happy with the one or two we eventually get. (I know about the Dodgers, we aren't them).

 

So, when people wanted Albert Pujols, that's your ticket. You don't get him and three others the next three years. I really, really don't believe anybody would be happy with Albert and the remainder of his contract just a few years in.

 

Instead you prefer nobody all three years?

 

Oh, no. I want Tanaka, but if it ends up costing as much per season as Garza and another No. 2 or No. 3 pitcher I want that instead. If I can get Tanaka and one of those other guys because the Cubs are spending the money that their market and franchise value indicates they should? Oh, hell yeah.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I want Tanaka more than Garza and Santana combined. Age and history of injury.

[davell]

I want Tanaka more than Garza and Santana combined. Age and history of injury.

 

I hope your want of Santana on a 1-10 scale is -13,000.

[SouthSideRyan]

Oh, no. I want Tanaka, but if it ends up costing as much per season as Garza and another No. 2 or No. 3 pitcher I want that instead. If I can get Tanaka and one of those other guys because the Cubs are spending the money that their market and franchise value indicates they should? Oh, hell yeah.

 

It's been pointed out elsewhere, but our front office isn't stupid. If they know payroll is going to hover around the pitiful level it was at last year, they aren't going to tie up 1/5 of the budget in one pitcher.

[Rob]

I want Tanaka more than Garza and Santana combined. Age and history of injury.

 

I hope your want of Santana on a 1-10 scale is -13,000.

 

Wrong Santana, but I'd be in favor of giving Johan a decent rehab deal.

[Clem Fandango]

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tt7HjIernphaSrv4wMWdUYg&output=html

 

Even after arbitration raises, a potential Samardzija extension, and a possible $25 million or so a year deal for Tanaka, the Cubs are still looking like a $90-$110 million a year team for the next few years. If they get a massive TV deal that gives them a [expletive] load of money to play around with on top of that, it makes the risk of signing Tanaka that much less of a bother. And during this time when they have millions more to spend, they'll have guys like Baez, Bryant, Almora, Soler, Alcantara, and Edwards on the team for LEAGUE MINIMUM.

 

I honestly don't care how much they spend on Tanaka. I just want him in a Cubs uniform

[mul21]

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tt7HjIernphaSrv4wMWdUYg&output=html

 

Even after arbitration raises, a potential Samardzija extension, and a possible $25 million or so a year deal for Tanaka, the Cubs are still looking like a $90-$110 million a year team for the next few years. If they get a massive TV deal that gives them a [expletive] load of money to play around with on top of that, it makes the risk of signing Tanaka that much less of a bother. And during this time when they have millions more to spend, they'll have guys like Baez, Bryant, Almora, Soler, Alcantara, and Edwards on the team for LEAGUE MINIMUM.

 

I honestly don't care how much they spend on Tanaka. I just want him in a Cubs uniform

 

I'm so desperate for ML talent at this point that I'm pretty much at this point as well.

[NOLA]

I want Tanaka on this team too in a bad way, but I do fear that we are building this guy up to be Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson rolled into one.

[Sammy Sofa]

Who is?