The Official 'TANAKA' Thread

[Redondo]

MLB asks Masahiro Tanaka's club for promise of no side deals

LA Times article

[YouthofToday]

I don't understand how exposure to the Japanese market will bring in significant revenue for the team. All merchandise sales not on the grounds of Angel stadium are split evenly between the 30 clubs.

Will the Angels sign a media rights deal with an outlet in Japan? Is this even legal?

[Angelsjunky]

My prediction: a rather huge bidding war occurs and some team - probably the Yankees, Dodgers, or Mariners - bids through the roof and offers Tanaka something like 7/$175M.

 

If I were the Angels I would pop the popcorn and watch the show. They really can't take on this risk.

[JB Abell]

I'm in Japan right now and have been asking everyone I can (through my Japanese speaking friend) for their opinion on the matter since I think their speculation has slightly more merit. The Yankees seem to be the consensus as to where they think he wants to go. Still all speculation, but thought it was interesting.

[Halos of Anaheim]

My prediction: a rather huge bidding war occurs and some team - probably the Yankees, Dodgers, or Mariners - bids through the roof and offers Tanaka something like 7/$175M.

 

If I were the Angels I would pop the popcorn and watch the show. They really can't take on this risk.

Nobodies going to pay this guy 25m/y though. If some team does, move on.

[Angelsjunky]

Nobodies going to pay this guy 25m/y though. If some team does, move on.

 

I think you may be surprised. Its about supply and demand. The supply is weak and the demand is huge, and teams like Seattle and the Yankees are rather desperate to make a splash. Seattle obviously already did, but they know that they're still a ways from contention, plus they want to re-invigorate the "Pacific Rim Connection." And we all now how the Yankees get.

 

The point being, we Angels fans should just let this one go.

Edited December 30, 2013 by Angelsjunky

[wopphil]

I am leaning toward the belief that Garza will turn out to be the better signing, dollar for (far fewer) dollars. I also wonder if the cost of Tanaka will equal the cost of Garza + Maholm, in which case j think the latter would be the better option.

[Brent Maguire]

7/175?! No way he gets that much. I get that the market is weak but a lot of baseball people have predicted he'll get around 6/100, so I think the highest teams go is around 120-130 million.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

• MLB teams' pursuit of Tanaka will be "insane," writes FanGraphs' Tony Blengino. Not only is Tanaka an excellent pitcher, he's only 25, which means he could be a better investment than most free agents, who are older. Also, unlike other Japanese talents, he's essentially a free agent. He doesn't have to deal with the posting system from previous years, in which Japanese teams, rather the players, reaped the benefits of the free market. Finally, teams have plenty of money to spend.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/tanaka-fest-this-is-going-to-be-insane/

[Inside Pitch]

Nobodies going to pay this guy 25m/y though. If some team does, move on.

Hype is a terrible drug, and Tanaka is all the rage right now.  Wouldnt shock me at all to see him go that high, particularly given the Dodgers new ownership and the Yankees apparent desire to show the world that they can still get whoever they want if they really want him.  I think a bit of Yankee pride is on the line after their beloved "Robby" went to Seattle of all places.

 

AJ is right IMO, if the bidding turns into a shit-show the Angels are better off watching.  

[Inside Pitch]

I am leaning toward the belief that Garza will turn out to be the better signing, dollar for (far fewer) dollars. I also wonder if the cost of Tanaka will equal the cost of Garza + Maholm, in which case j think the latter would be the better option.

 

Maholm AND Capuano would likely be an even better signing than any one guy.

[Inside Pitch]

 

• MLB teams' pursuit of Tanaka will be "insane," writes FanGraphs' Tony Blengino. Not only is Tanaka an excellent pitcher, he's only 25, which means he could be a better investment than most free agents, who are older. Also, unlike other Japanese talents, he's essentially a free agent. He doesn't have to deal with the posting system from previous years, in which Japanese teams, rather the players, reaped the benefits of the free market. Finally, teams have plenty of money to spend.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/tanaka-fest-this-is-going-to-be-insane/

 

That is far and away the best article written on Tanaka and his stuff, etc etc written to date..  Interesting to see the comparisons to Jered Weaver

[Tyler]

It's the Angels vs the Cubs for Tanaka.

[SoWhat]

@JeffFletcherOCR: Jerry Dipoto would not comment on whether #Angels are pursuing Tanaka. Still think it's safe to assume they are.

@MikeDiGiovanna: #Angels GM Jerry Dipoto wouldn't go near a question on Tanaka ... which leads me to believe even more that he's going hard after him.

[Guest]

The angels always like to surprise people with big acquisitions, but I can't imagine they'll get Tanaka.

[Angel Oracle]

I would love to see Tanaka added for up to Weaver's per year salary over 6 or 7 years.

Anything beyond that is getting risky.  

 

If the Skanks and M's want to drive it up to $23-25 million/year plus the posting fee though, go get Garza then.

[DB24]

Man M's going all out this year.

[Brent Maguire]

Dipoto will say he's confident with the rotation and the next day he'll turn around and sign Tanaka,

[Ohtaniland]

I say we offer Tanaka 6 / $147M (Greinke $$$) and we don't give up Segura, Hellweg and Pena in the deal.

 

 

See what I did there. 

[VariousCrap]

I am leaning toward the belief that Garza will turn out to be the better signing, dollar for (far fewer) dollars. I also wonder if the cost of Tanaka will equal the cost of Garza + Maholm, in which case j think the latter would be the better option.

 

 

 

I would love to see the Angels sign Garza AND Maholm.  That would actually be smarter than getting Tanaka at this point.

[Brent Maguire]

I like the idea of adding Capuano AND Maholm or someone like Baker if Tanaka doesn't work.

I'd love to go into the season worrying about which pitchers make the rotation. That's a good problem the Angels need to have next year.

[Halos of Anaheim]

Agreed AB, the more the merrier. The lack of pitching depth really killed us at times last year. The problem I have though is that pitchers always get hurt, adding two unreliable guys to our already question mark filled rotation (at least the bottom of the rotation) would scare me. That's why we really need Tanaka or Garza.

[Halos of Anaheim]

And I understand Tanaka and Garza could end up being question marks too (Tanaka not being able to adjust quick enough, Garza being 30 & having injury history) but I'd still feel much better going into next season if we had those guys as our #3, as would most of us.

[Docwaukee]

I am leaning toward the belief that Garza will turn out to be the better signing, dollar for (far fewer) dollars. I also wonder if the cost of Tanaka will equal the cost of Garza + Maholm, in which case j think the latter would be the better option.

dollar for dollar it's shaping up to be Garza.  Total value over the life of the contract and in particular the next four years it will be Tanaka.  Do you overpay for 2-3 WAR or 3-5 WAR?  If you are going to overpay for value, and the ratio is similar then you might as well go with the better player.  No offense to Maholm, but that type of guy is a dime a dozen.  Grated, our dozen was broken last year. 

 

Maholm is a nice depth move if you can't get Tanaka, but you are generally better off getting your value from one player than the same value from two players combined. 

 

Tanaka is likely at least 1 WAR better than Garza.  At least I think he is, but I don't really know for sure.  None of us do.  We'll see if the halos think so because you can justify paying Tanaka up to 7mil more per season if you think he's 1 WAR better. 

 

Personally, I still think there is more value in Tanaka, Romine at SS and a solid major league ready pitcher for Aybar than Garza and Aybar alone. 

 

I will say that the one thing the halos have been subject to with their signings of Pujosl and Hamilton is getting near worst case scenario and it's something you have to consider with Tanaka in that he does have some wear on that arm at a young age. 

[Brent Maguire]

B$!!! When are tryouts at Katella High School...If that's the case I'm breaking out the glove and tossing the knuckler!

I'm sure you could out pitch Blanton at this point.

 

Then again I think my sister could outproduce him too.