Tanaka is DBacks #1 Target

[Chris_Sanders]

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/11/report-masahiro-tanaka-is-the-diamondbacks-no-1-target/

After pulling off a three-way trade yesterday to land slugger Mark Trumbo, the Diamondbacks are currently looking for an impact starting pitcher via free agency and trade. And FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that they have one name at the top of their list.

Will have to pay 20 million just for the chance to negotiate...

 

[crisper57]

Hell, if they can afford it, then I like this move. Sure, it is a lot of money just for the privilege of negotiating. And the contract will be massive. But the D-Backs have had their eye on this guy for a loooooong time. They've done their homework on him. They must think they have a really good shot at him to go swimming in the big boys pool.

 

[sundevil04]

Id love this move. Doesn't cost prospects either. If we can go into 2014 having added a power corner OF bat in Trumbo and a front of the rotation guy in Tanaka and all we unloaded was Eaton and Skaggs, Id say we did great

 

[82CardsGrad]

Id love this move. Doesn't cost prospects either. If we can go into 2014 having added a power corner OF bat in Trumbo and a front of the rotation guy in Tanaka and all we unloaded was Eaton and Skaggs, Id say we did great

KT, in a uniquely strategic move designed to insure Tanaka falls to the Dbacks, has offered Bradley, Owings and Davidson to any team that attempts to bid for Tanaka....




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[unseenaz]

His Japanese numbers are phenomenal. This just doesn't seem like something we'd do.

 

[devilalum]

Could this just be a PR tactic? I don't see how the Dbacks have any chance of winning a bidding war.

 

[Matt L]

I like it. He's 25 and has been dominant in Japan. He is definitely a risk but he is younger than the Free Agents available.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Could this just be a PR tactic? I don't see how the Dbacks have any chance of winning a bidding war.

Don't think so, they have put in genuine (but losing) bids on Japanese players before. With the capped posting system, they have at least a chance.

 

[Brian]

I don't think there is any chance Tanaka is coming to America this season.

That Japanese owner is being a douche about it.

I think at this time KT has to go after Arroyo or Garza and forget about Tanaka until next year.

 

[Phrazbit]

Tanaka would thrill me, but like others have said, between his Japanese team not wanting to post him and that basically everyone with room in their budget will go after him, the odds of getting him seem slim.

 

[TheHopToad]

Can't see the D-Backs out-paying teams like the Yanks and Dodgers for this guy. $20M is nothing to those clubs just to gain rights to negotiate under the new posting system.

 

[overseascardfan]

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/407783-report-masahiro-tanaka-may-stay-in-japan

Teams may have to wait a year to get him. This certainly changes things for ARZ.

 

[Bert]

FWIW Gambo said today he has good info that the deal still might get done and that the Dbacks are very much in the mix.

Say what you want about Gambo, but he knows his baseball.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I generally have concerns of Japanese pitchers. Their track record in MLB is spotty at best, and for every Yu Darvish (who so far looks the part of a solid MLBer) and Hideo Nomos, there are a dozen Hideki Irabus (God rest his soul).

That said, Tanaka hasn't just been a good pitcher, he's dominated. I don't even recall Matsuzaka having as good of success in Japan as Tanaka has had. This kid seems like a rare breed of pitcher.

 

[Gaddabout]

The headline is funny. Is there a semi-competitive team in MLB that doesn't have Tanaka as their top target?

 

[overseascardfan]

Per ESPN, will not be made available this year.

 

[crisper57]

Won't be posted. Owner doesn't want to conceded that the Japanese league is inferior. Pride.

The post season is a failure now.

 

[overseascardfan]

Won't be posted. Owner doesn't want to conceded that the Japanese league is inferior. Pride.

The post season is a failure now.

Actually its all about $$$ not pride. They were looking for more than the $50M TEX paid for Darvish and MLB capped the bidding at $20M.

 

[crisper57]

Actually its all about $$$ not pride. They were looking for more than the $50M TEX paid for Darvish and MLB capped the bidding at $20M.

I was going off a Gamons quote that said that accepting the low price would be conceding that the Japanese League was nothing more than another minor league for mlb.

 

[Town Drunk]

Masahiro Tanaka | INT
(December 24, 2013 5:29 PM EST)
According to Sponichi in Japan, the Rakuten Golden Eagles have decided to post right-hander Masahiro Tanaka.
Given the nature of this saga and its constant conflicting reports, this news item must be taken with a grain of salt. But it will bring about excitement across the Major League Baseball landscape nonetheless. Tanaka, 25, went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA and 183/32 K/BB ratio in 212 innings this past summer in Nippon Professional Baseball and can probably command a contract worth more than $100 million state-side. To negotiate with him, big league teams will have to put up a $20 million posting fee.
SOURCE: DYLAN HERNANDEZ ON TWITTER

 

[sundevil04]

Great news, we need to make a major run at him, he'd be the final piece of the puzzle

1.) Tanaka
2.) Corbin
3.) Mikey
4.) Cahill
5.) Delgado/Bradley

Looks good!

With

2. Prado
3. Goldschmidt
4. Trumbo
5. Hill
6. Montero

In the middle of the lineup!

 

[Town Drunk]

Report: Rakuten won't let Tanaka go to MLB
Masahiro Tanaka | INT
(December 24, 2013 7:19 PM EST)
According to Sports Jiji in Japan, the Rakuten Golden Eagles will not let Masahiro Tanaka go to the major leagues.
It comes on the heels of a report from Sponichi stating that Rakuten WOULD post Tanaka. Ultimately, we suspect that the Golden Eagles will grant Tanaka his wish and let him leave for the states, but anything is possible at this point. Rakuten is expected to officially inform Tanaka of their decision on Wednesday.
SOURCE: DYLAN HERNANDEZ ON TWITTER

 

[BC867]

With

2. Prado
3. Goldschmidt
4. Trumbo
5. Hill
6. Montero

In the middle of the lineup!

I'd lean toward swapping Prado and Hill in your batting order.

Prado became much more valuable to the team when he no longer had to give up his at-bats to move runners while batting second.

Hill seems much more disciplined and flexible. In this lineup, it would help Goldy with Hill "protecting" him batting ahead of him. How many in a row would the opposing pitchers pitch around?

And it is obvious that Miggy needs to be kept out of the 3-4-5 heart of the order if he is going to return from his .230 of 2013 to around his .267 lifetime batting average.

If only Trumbo could learn how to bat lefty, that would be mucho beneficial.

 

[gmabel830]

This will be my reaction if we sign this Tanaka guy...

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[coyoteshockeyfan]

They're posting Tanaka per ESPN. Every big spender is expected to make a bid.