Angels Scouting Masahiro Tanaka

[SoWhat]

"The Angels, who beat the Oakland Athletics, 12-1, Monday night, had a scout in Japan last week to watch Masahiro Tanaka pitch, and they are considering a run at the undefeated Rakuten Eagles right-hander, whom scouts project as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter in the major leagues.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Tanaka, who features a 94-mph fastball, sharp slider and a superb split-fingered fastball, won't come cheap. If the Eagles, as expected, post Tanaka, it could cost a major league team $25 million or more just to obtain the rights to negotiate a deal with him.

Tanaka, 24, could be worth it. Two scouts who have seen Tanaka pitch but are not authorized to speak publicly about him said that although Tanaka might not be in Texas ace Yu Darvish's class, he could be as good as or better than Hiroki Kuroda, who is 68-68 with a 3.37 earned-run average in six big league seasons.

"I don't think he has the creativity and the multiple weapons of Darvish, but Kuroda is a really good comparison," one scout said. "He has three good pitches, and his splitter is a legitimate out pitch."

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/la-sp-angels-athletics-20130917,0,6463943.story#axzz2fAzO5M61

Edited September 17, 2013 by SoWhat

[Tyler]

Abreu drew comparisons to Kendrys Morales, Dayan Viciedo, Pedro Alvarez and former Angels first-round pick C.J. Cron when Crasnick asked for comparables.

 

[Tyler]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/la-sp-angels-athletics-20130917,0,6463943.story#axzz2f5PjuBhm

 

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Tanaka, who features a 94-mph fastball, sharp slider and a superb split-fingered fastball, won't come cheap. If the Eagles, as expected, post Tanaka, it could cost a major league team $25 million or more just to obtain the rights to negotiate a deal with him.

 

Tanaka, 24, could be worth it. Two scouts who have seen Tanaka pitch but are not authorized to speak publicly about him said that although Tanaka might not be in Texas ace Yu Darvish's class, he could be as good as or better than Hiroki Kuroda, who is 68-68 with a 3.37 earned-run average in six big league seasons.

"I don't think he has the creativity and the multiple weapons of Darvish, but Kuroda is a really good comparison," one scout said. "He has three good pitches, and his splitter is a legitimate out pitch."

 

[Brent Maguire]

I think it's definitely worth looking at him. He wouldn't just be a short term guy for next year either so it could be a good long term move.

[Tyler]

Scioscia is expressing confidence to friends that he will return as the Halos' manager in 2014, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports within his latest column. Previous reports have indicated that either Scioscia or Dipoto will be replaced, and Rosenthal points out that firing Dipoto would be a trickier move from an organizational standpoint. Dipoto has made several hires in scouting and player development that would likely be replaced, and the same goes for assistant GM Scott Servais.

 

Alot of Angels news out there right now.

[m0nkey]

Why would they want a guy who is compared to a guy who only wins half his decisions? Pass.

[HaloCory22]

We'll provide Japan 5 years of protection from Gozilla in exchange for his rights.

[Angels Never Die]

Why would they want a guy who is compared to a guy who only wins half his decisions? Pass.

 

Are you serious?

[rageous]

I hope Arte really opens his wallet and goes all out for this guy.

He is going to cost nothing other than the salary and has a much higher upside than anything they can get from the free agent market or from a trade.

[Glen]

Just think how many teams will be in on this guy - Angels, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers (because **** you we have money to burn, that's why), Rangers, and probably a few more I can't think of right now.  He's gonna cost a fortune but I'd love to see us get him.  $60 million posting fee, 4/$15 million a year contract.  It ain't my money.

[halobob]

The Angels need this guy if they plan to compete next year.  No one on the FA market compares.

[SoWhat]

I really hope we go all in for him, he's put up amazing numbers while pitching with a ball on steroids. If we sign him, it'd save us some trade chips, then we could definetly put together a legit enough package for a top young arm like Archie Bradley or others

Edited September 17, 2013 by SoWhat

[Docwaukee]

It seems as if his downside is that of a 4 or 5.  25mil posting fee and a 5yr 40mil contract has him locked up for about 65mil for 5 years at ages 25-30.  Or about 13 mil per year for a #4.  I think Vargas is going to get that sort of AAV for at least three years for his ages 31-33 seasons.  If you get a #5, you have overpaid a bit. 

[Angel Oracle]

YES!!!!!!!   YES!!!!!!!   YES!!!!!!!

 

Kuroda is definately a #3.   

I'll gladly take a #3 (including rights fee) for 5 years/$90-100 million, that won't cost players in exchange. 

A #3 potentially, that will only be 25 in 2014!

 

Weaver, Wilson, Tanaka, Vargas, Richards....sounds good to me.

Edited September 17, 2013 by Angel Oracle

[tdawg87]

AO is trying in vain to control his erection.

The Angels definitely need to get this guy. If the Kuroda comp is accurate then at worst you are getting a good number 4/decent number 3. I have a feeling that may end up being what Garza gets you and he's going to get a larger contract, perhaps even with the posting fee included.

[Docwaukee]

right or wrong, if Arte feels strongly about a player, he seems to pull out all the stops to get him.  you have to wonder if seeing Darvish doing what he has with the Rangers is eating at Arte and motivating him to make a strong move for this guy. 

 

If the Kuroda comp is even close then it should be a no brainer.  Kuroda came to mlb as a 33yo. 

 

This guy could continue to improve. 

[Pbonetheman]

Yeah, and Garza has a stupid goatee.

[Ohtaniland]

Arte will force Dipoto to sign Daisuke Matsuzaka and we will get the low risk, high reward explaination..........again.

[Glen]

I'd love to see what Butcher can do with him.

[ELEVEN]

Splitter = future elbow problems

[SoWhat]

I don't recall Haren with any elbow problems

[DMVol]

I don't recall Haren with any elbow problems

Don't think he did....low back issues were the only physical issue I can recall with him....seemingly, it was more of a high mileage/loss of velocity thing with Haren....similiar to Weaver, except Weaver has adjusted pretty well to the loss of velocity....

[SoWhat]

Yeah. I don't think it's fair to assume he's automatically going to have elbow troubles from throwing a splitter

[tdawg87]

You might be a tripod though.

[HaloCory22]

 

Life after baseball for Escobar.