Do you think that the Tanaka interest is just for show? Or is it a "FA doesn't want our money" thing on top of a limited payroll? It doesn't matter if its for show or not. I'm sure they want to sign him, but as N&G said, why would he sign here? What would compel him to come here as opposed to a team poised to content with better facilities? Interest is great, but they have to turn that interest into results. It completely matters within the context of the discussion between SSR and TT.... Wait, this is going all over the place. SSR said he fears payroll will remain low for 5 years and that the only thing that would convince him otherwise is if they sign Tanaka. Their level of interest in Tanaka, or his reasons for not picking the Cubs do not matter in this context. The context of the discussion is that the Cubs have to prove they are willing to spend for him to believe they are willing to spend and the only way to do that is to actually spend, not just hint that they have an interest in spending.