Tanaka to be posted

[romeo212000]

I don't see tanaka being a top of the rotation pitcher at all. His fastball is flat with little movement. He'll be getting way more than he's worth.

 

[StanMarsh51]

I don't see tanaka being a top of the rotation pitcher at all. His fastball is flat with little movement. He'll be getting way more than he's worth.

Then again, he has 6 pitches, so it's not as if he needs to rely on his fastball as much as many other pitchers do..

BaseballAmerica had the following scouting report on him:

At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Tanaka throws a low-90s fastball that can touch 96 mph. Even though Tanaka can reach the mid-90s, his fastball is the pitch that gives some scouts pause because it comes in on a flat plane, making it more hittable than the velocity might suggest. Tanaka has two secondary pitches that have earned grades of 60 or better on the 20-80 scouting scale, including a 70 splitter with late downward action to keep hitters off his fastball. His low- to mid-80s slider is another plus weapon, while he’ll mix in a curveball as well.

 

[$500 Million]

When it comes to Tanaka being a top of the rotation pitcher, I think it depends on the rotation. He'd be at the top of the Yankees rotation for sure. Dodgers, Tigers, Red Sox, Rangers, Mariners...not so much.

 

[Chef99]

I don't see tanaka being a top of the rotation pitcher at all. His fastball is flat with little movement. He'll be getting way more than he's worth.

Then again, he has 6 pitches, so it's not as if he needs to rely on his fastball as much as many other pitchers do..

BaseballAmerica had the following scouting report on him:

At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Tanaka throws a low-90s fastball that can touch 96 mph. Even though Tanaka can reach the mid-90s, his fastball is the pitch that gives some scouts pause because it comes in on a flat plane, making it more hittable than the velocity might suggest. Tanaka has two secondary pitches that have earned grades of 60 or better on the 20-80 scouting scale, including a 70 splitter with late downward action to keep hitters off his fastball. His low- to mid-80s slider is another plus weapon, while he’ll mix in a curveball as well.

I'm sure MLB scouts are all over this, but the flat fastball part is a little scary. I can see some batters eyes lighting up when they see that coming their way...

 

[steveringo]

He won't be an ace, but he'll be a solid 2 or 3, depending on where he ends up.

I didn't see any posts about the difference in the size of Japanese baseballs. The larger US baseballs usually affect the off speed pitches. It sound like he relies on movement - which might not be a good thing over here....

Also, not many mentions of Seattle in the bidding. If they are in to win (with Cano), they might as well go all in...

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Latest On Masahiro Tanaka

Free agent starters have largely been held up by Masahiro Tanaka, but Ubaldo Jimenez hasn't let them hurt his asking price. Want to sign the right-hander? It'll still cost you $14MM annually. While we wait to see how that plays out, here's the latest on the Japanese sensation..

• Braves president John Schuerholz says that he's not in on Tanaka but that his club did their "due diligence" on him, tweets Jim Bowden of SiriusXM.
• The Angels may be a long shot to land Tanaka, but history shows us that they shouldn't be counted out, writes Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. Some would argue that it doesn't make sense for the Halos to spend big. On the other hand, Gonzalez writes that this is as good a time as any to splurge, because Tanaka is a free agent at a relatively young age, has more upside than any other available pitcher, won't cost a Draft pick, and the Angels badly need high-upside starting pitching.
• Tanaka will meet with the Cubs and White Sox this week, likely in Chicago, tweets Luke Stuckmeyer of CSNChicago.com.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Latest On Masahiro Tanaka

I've been looking for updates on the Tanaka sweepstakes pretty regularly. Most of the stuff I've found claims that the M's, Dbacks, and LAA are strong contenders. I also found a piece asserting that NYY not getting him early on suggests that they might not be the top contender that they ere previously thought to be by many. Who knows?

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

I've been looking for updates on the Tanaka sweepstakes pretty regularly. Most of the stuff I've found claims that the M's, Dbacks, and LAA are strong contenders. I also found a piece asserting that NYY not getting him early on suggests that they might not be the top contender that they ere previously thought to be by many. Who knows?

First i'm hearing of Arizona, that would be a nice destination for him.

 

[HammerDown]

 

[TDs3nOut]

First i'm hearing of Arizona, that would be a nice destination for him.

Here are a couple of the pieces I mentioned:

Arizona Diamondbacks are serious suitors for Japanese superstar pitcher Masahiro Tanaka - MLB News | FOX Sports on MSN

Diamondbacks rumors: Masahiro Tanaka considered Arizona's 'No. 1 target' - MLB Daily Dish

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Here are a couple of the pieces I mentioned:

Arizona Diamondbacks are serious suitors for Japanese superstar pitcher Masahiro Tanaka - MLB News | FOX Sports on MSN

Diamondbacks rumors: Masahiro Tanaka considered Arizona's 'No. 1 target' - MLB Daily Dish

Wow, nice. After dealing Skaggs for Trumbo, they can use a top arm.

 

[DragonfromTO]

I don't see tanaka being a top of the rotation pitcher at all. His fastball is flat with little movement. He'll be getting way more than he's worth.

I know it's from a couple of years ago, but didn't I read somewhere that Pitch F/X registered his fastball as having tons of movement?

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Masahiro Tanaka to meet with teams

The Masahiro Tanaka free-agency tour has hit the U.S., as the Japanese ace and his agent are scheduled to meet with teams over the next several days, an official with knowledge of the pitcher's plans told ESPNNewYork.com.
Tanaka and agent Casey Close have until a deadline of 5 p.m. ET Jan. 24 to have a contract and physical completed with a team.
The right-hander went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA in the Japanese League last season and is considered by many to be a top-of-the-rotation starter. The major league team that signs Tanaka, 25, will owe a $20 million posting fee to the Rakuten Golden Eagles.
One official estimated that more than one-third of MLB teams are interested in Tanaka, who will likely garner a contract in the six-year, $100 million range. Among the interested teams are the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros.
There have been reports that Tanaka will initially meet with the Cubs and White Sox.
Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said Wednesday that Tanaka is trying to educate himself about what it would be like to play in each of the cities.
"I talked to Casey as soon as they announced he was going to be posted and as soon as they announced Casey would represent him," Colletti said. "Obviously, Casey and I go back quite a while. They're in a feeling-out process. They're trying to learn about different cities, different teams, different markets, how teams are constructed going forward.
"You know, it's a big decision for the player too, so we've had those types of conversations and we'll continue to see where it goes."
Although the Dodgers have a ton of money, National League Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, who is also represented by Close, is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the 2014 season.
Since the beginning of the offseason, sources have told ESPNNewYork.com that the Yankees planned on making a strong push for Tanaka, realizing they need a young starter to team with CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda at the top of the rotation. After those two, Ivan Nova is slated to be the No. 3 starter, and the four and five spots are unsettled. Michael Pineda, David Phelps, Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno are expected to compete for the fifth spot.
If the Yankees fail to sign Tanaka, it is unclear what they would do about another starter because they are not high on any of the other top free-agent starters at the current prices. Matt Garza, Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez are still unsigned. It could reopen the possibility of trading outfielder Brett Gardner to fill a need.
Just like with Robinson Cano, the Mariners may prove to be the Yankees' strongest competition for Tanaka. With Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma at the top of the rotation, the Mariners likely need more starting pitching to compete in the American League West, and Iwakuma and Tanaka were teammates with Rakuten.
Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com contributed to this report.

Masahiro Tanaka has arrived in United States, to meet with interested teams - ESPN

Two weeks to get a deal done.

 

[Lemon Harang Pie]

Are Japanese players not allowed to come up through the MLB system?

I'm kind of confused by the whole process.

 

[$500 Million]

One official estimated that more than one-third of MLB teams are interested in Tanaka, who will likely garner a contract in the six-year, $100 million range.

Yankees will get him for 8 years at 150-160 million.

Plus the posting fee.

 

[PackMaster]

I don't see tanaka being a top of the rotation pitcher at all. His fastball is flat with little movement. He'll be getting way more than he's worth.

I bet if the rangers had a chance to get him you'd be licking his nuts.

 

[PackMaster]

Welcome to the cubs!

 

[gregrey972]

I bet if the rangers had a chance to get him you'd be licking his nuts.

What has led you to believe the Rangers don't have a chance in getting him? Anything to support that thought?

 

[$500 Million]

Bob Nightengale reports that the Dodgers have “let it be known they plan to go all-out” in their attempt to sign Masahiro Tanaka. Nightengale reports that the Dodgers are saying they “certainly won’t be out-bid.”

So the Dodgers and Yankees are going to have their first bidding war of the new Dodger era?


You can pencil in Masahiro Tanaka as the highest paid player in the history of baseball right now. 10 years, $300 million

 

[BigDDude]

Bob Nightengale reports that the Dodgers have “let it be known they plan to go all-out” in their attempt to sign Masahiro Tanaka. Nightengale reports that the Dodgers are saying they “certainly won’t be out-bid.”

So the Dodgers and Yankees are going to have their first bidding war of the new Dodger era?


You can pencil in Masahiro Tanaka as the highest paid player in the history of baseball right now. 10 years, $300 million

Let the good times roll......