According to this link, http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/rosenthal-japan-s-tanaka-could-end-up-in-desert-as-diamondbacks-ace-010214 Rosenthal says there is a good chance Tanaka could wind up in Arizona... what comes after the report on ESPN that Seattle had been gaining steam to sign him.... http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mlb/rumors/post?id=11196&ex_cid=espnapi_public (you need to be an ESPN insider, which I am not, to read the entire article, but it stated in the the first two sentences "Where will Masahiro Tanaka end up pitching in 2014? The signs may be beginning to point towards the free agent pitcher wearing the uniform of the Seattle Mariners." Yankees better step up their game...
...Seattle would not surprise me because it is closer to home...and as we've seen, just because the Yanx offer more money it might not be enough to sway him to NY...then again, maybe Ichiro and Kuroda have been sweet talking him, who knows. ...I think it's safe to say that whoever signs him will in the minds of some people, have to "overpay"...which in reality, is the case with most FAs.
...oh yeah, for sure. ...I just don't know why some people seem to think that the Yanx are the only team who "over pays" for FAs.
You guys aren't the only team--the Dodgers and Sawkx are right there with you. On a serious note, I don't get the feeling that Ichiro "sweet-talks" anyone, especially other Japanese ballplayers. He's extremely aloof, and it's all about Ichiro, all the time. I understand why (he's an all-time great, in his eyes, and a pretty darn good player compared against history), but it's not as if he's ever stepped outside of himself to recruit a free agent, or call a team meeting, or help a struggling teammate, etc. As for SEA, Iwakuma's a former teammate of Tanaka and there have been reports that they're buddies (can't speak to any of that). But I do know that the organization and fanbase have really rolled out the welcome mat for a guy who might've been considered a bust anywhere else (with his injuries and start in long relief), and who has been able to succeed there. In addition to all the other intangibles laid out (close to Japan, previously a market for star Japanese players, SEA being a Pacific Rim town)
...you may be right about Ichiro...I was only suggesting that maybe the Yanx had asked him and Kuroda to "reach out" to Tanaka...and would imagine other teams are asking the same thing of their Asian players.
I probably agree with the Ichiro aspect you mentioned, but they also could draw on Matsui to court Tanaka as well... not sure, but could... either way, I hope like hell he signs with the NYY
The bottom line is Tanaka is going to get paid big time, dwarfing the dollars paid for Darvish, so how far can the Yankees really go with this guy? he's great but these teams like Seattle are beyond sanity, just look at the Cano deal, so Tanaka is probably not a Yankee. But NY has some chips to offer in trade, so if any front line starter becomes available the Yankees can put a good package on the table, so all is not lost yet.
...I'm assuming he's referring to Ichiro, Wells, maybe even Cervelli (yeah, I know)....and Gardner, Nunez, and some of the kids on the farm. With the signing of McCann there's not much of an immediate future for those young catchers in the minors. ...just guessing.
Sanchez, Murphy, Romine, Gardner, Heathcott, Williams, Jose Ramirez, Phelps, Nuno... I understand the Yankees have no real big name in their system but are you seriously implying NY could not make a decent offer?
...if Tanaka falls through, Gardner for Bailey works for me......or my least favorite option, maybe just sign of of the remaining FA pitchers looking for a home.
Did anyone take into consideration that Nintendo America who owns the Mariners, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nintendo Japan right? Seattle will be in to the end I feel because of this fact alone. As far as money goes, if it comes down to anything besides money, the Yankees could be in trouble. With that said, I still feel they will spend whatever it takes. Tanaka is a typical case of being in the right place at the right time.
Seattle can beat out the yanks for a player (cano) that the yanks imo weren't sign at all costs but I have to see seattle beat out the yanks for a player they do want to sign at all costs like tanaka.
...plus their new TV deal is pretty sweet. http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2013/...ners-root-sports-purchase-directv-maury-brown
Everybody MLB Team has money these days, the unknown will be the negotiations that could go like this. Here is our offer, it is more than what we feel you have gotten so far, sign or die. That would be the Angels or Seattle approach where the Yankees don't get a chance to counter. That is the unknown variable of these type of negotiations.
yeah, if it's money on money, you guys probably win (barring a stupid offer from someone like Arizona). SEA is betting on "intangibles", while being close in number. At least, that's what all the beat guys like Divish, Stone and Baker are saying. Then again, with JackZ, who the eff knows?
