Yankees Sign Masahiro Tanaka

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Well, yeah, but who is the deadline supposed to benefit? NPB?

[Guest]

I would imagine, at the very least, that his team wants to get its posting fee in some sort of a timely fashion and with some certainty as to when it will happen by.

[Bull]

Other players waiting for suitors.

[Cubswin11]

Well, yeah, but who is the deadline supposed to benefit? NPB?

Everyone. Tanaka doesn't get stuck in long drawn out negotiations and the teams both MLB/Japanese get to move on with their off seasons to plan and make the necessary moves based on his decision. It gives Tanaka a monthish to get to the US, acclimated with whatever team signs him, get familiar with the US city he's going to play in and ready for Spring Training. The MLB teams that lost out on him, theoretically, still have time to make other moves to try and supplement not getting him with players still available through FA.

[Guest]

1) Cubs 2) Japan

 

1) cubs 2) mysterious letterbomb with a tennessee postmark

 

:-$

[davell]

Kaplan said on the radio he heard our offer isn't close to the 160 mill rumor from today.

[RammyFanny]

Kaplan said on the radio he heard our offer isn't close to the 160 mill rumor from today.

I had a feeling after the reported Diamondbacks offer and the Cafardo blurb that bidding "could reach 120 million" that the final numbers may be a bit lower than everyone's expecting. But it only takes one. And hopefully it's the Cubs.

[Soul]

Kaplan said on the radio he heard our offer isn't close to the 160 mill rumor from today.

I had a feeling after the reported Diamondbacks offer and the Cafardo blurb that bidding "could reach 120 million" that the final numbers may be a bit lower than everyone's expecting. But it only takes one. And hopefully it's the Cubs.

Only if that's really what is needed

[davell]

Mooney doesn't see us with much of a shot either.

[OleMissCub]

can't wait to see him as a Cy Young candidate for another team.

 

freaking Cubs.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Beware of the false prophets, for they shall lead you astray.

[OleMissCub]

Just watched some videos of him on YouTube. I covet this man.

[davell]

My current chances:

 

Yankees 40%

Dodgers 40%

Cubs 10%

Rest 10%

 

Earlier today, it was probably 30-30-30-10.

 

I trust Mooney/Kaplan more than Arguello/Loxas.

[OleMissCub]

PAY THIS MAN, CUBS!!!!!

[Sammy Sofa]

Have faith, my children.

[seanimal]

120 million

 

lol be serious

[CubsWin]

Is the deadline the 24th in Japanese time?

Friday, 5pm eastern time. That would be 10am on the 25th in Japan.

[Guest]

My current chances:

 

Yankees 40%

Dodgers 40%

Cubs 10%

Rest 10%

 

Earlier today, it was probably 30-30-30-10.

 

I trust Mooney/Kaplan more than Arguello/Loxas.

 

i don't know if this stuff really happens, but my fear is that the cubs have been putting stuff out there to make it look like they were totally in, and the local guys are getting the numbers right because they have better sources.

[Guest]

Julie DiCaro ‏@JulieDiCaro 5h

Asked my source if he wanted to back off his #Cubs & Tanaka optimism today. His response? "No way."

[CubsWin]

My current chances:

 

Yankees 40%

Dodgers 40%

Cubs 10%

Rest 10%

 

Earlier today, it was probably 30-30-30-10.

 

I trust Mooney/Kaplan more than Arguello/Loxas.

 

i don't know if this stuff really happens, but my fear is that the cubs have been putting stuff out there to make it look like they were totally in, and the local guys are getting the numbers right because they have better sources.

As far as the amount of money reportedly being offered, it should be noted that Arguello qualified it as pure industry speculation when he passed it along. Don't know the source of that rumor, that could've come from someone inside the Cubs or anywhere else.

 

As far as the non-specific reports of the Cubs making a large, competitive bid or the "watch out for the Cubs" comments, those came from non-Cubs employees, reportedly from AL teams, at the owner's meetings (per Jayson Stark) and sources inside MLB (per Levine). I don't see why those guys would have any interest in doing free PR work for the Cubs. It may have been informed comments or just speculative opinion, but it wasn't the Cubs trying to make themselves look good.

[CubsWin]

Julie DiCaro ‏@JulieDiCaro 5h

Asked my source if he wanted to back off his #Cubs & Tanaka optimism today. His response? "No way."

Boy I hope her source his highly placed. Come on, Cubs...

[ctcf]

Ty Youngfelt ‏@TyYoungfelt 57m

Theo in Tanaka pitch:"...you'll be our Kershaw, our Sabathia..."they know his personality,felt best approach was to sell him as 'the man'...

 

Ty Youngfelt ‏@TyYoungfelt 14m

@bpaoni Unchanged from my sources... Cubs high team, Dodgers w/lower, competitive offer focused on better geo/roster, Yanks getting creative

 

Ty Youngfelt ‏@TyYoungfelt 11m

Did hear that 1 team has an 'Oakland/Cespedes' type offer on table (really high AAV, really short contract) although MT seems uninterested

 

Ty Youngfelt ‏@TyYoungfelt 9m

@TyYoungfelt Hate 140 characters:to clarify at 1point such offer on table,Tanaka @ time uninterested, focusing on long term-not type to move

[Guest]

is Julie DiCaro a person that floats a lot of rumors?

[Deeg]

is Julie DiCaro a person that floats a lot of rumors?

 

She's a person that repeats a lot of rumors she reads somewhere else, in my experience.

[CubsWin]

Here is the latest from PSD poster ABTY7 who some people think has some inside source somewhere...

 

Yankees getting creative, trying anything to get Tanaka short of matching Cubs offer (something I'm told they just cannot do)- they've offered varying opt outs, perk packages- they've offered very odd contract structuring allowing for more money via extremely achievable escalators to be paid out at times that would help circumvent LuxTax issues, they've offered to purchase a penthouse in any borough

of his chooseing that would, I believe, be offically Yanks property leased to him for a dollar or there abouts to save on taxes... They're stratching and clawing, really putting the full court press on him... Dodgers meanwhile are persistent w/Casey Close, checking in often, letting it be known they have everything he wants (high Asian pop, access to Japanese media, best weather, best team, competitive offer w/perks and opt out...) feeling I get is that the Dodgers feel as if he's theirs to lose... Mariners info that a source told CC on twitter sounds like PR fodder- M's presentation did not go well, although if ownership gives OK, they are the 1 team situated to trump Cubs offer w/no LuxTax hit whatsoever. M's scary if only because they have been the most successful team in MLB with handling, marketing Japanese players while also having Japanese ownership which has in the past really helped keep players coming over comfortable and also had them remain very relevant in their home country....Then there's the Cubs: most money currently on table, from what I've been told, they had the best, most impressive presentation of any, very glossy future, chance to head a rotation, chance to be the face of an organization... Hate to say it but regardless of how he decides, it will be hard the fault the decision- all offer very destint attitubutes, opportunities- all make him richest Japanese player in history, all offering favorable opt outs, all structured to his favor from the start... It will be interesting to say the least...

 

IMHO Cubs still favorites...