Masahiro Tanaka rumors: Japanese ace wants $17 million annually

[Angel Oracle]

Boras will probably start by asking for 10 years.

Seven years tops is what he should get.

The AAV puts him right with Weaver.

[Erick McClendon]

I also agree that Seattle or Texas could be attractive options with their Japanese pitchers. I know that if I was going to Japan, the presence of another American on a team would be a big factor. Just not sure Texas or Seattle has the money to make it happen.

he will have a translator anyway of Japanese decent

[Erick McClendon]

I see the only things the Angels have that others don't is the chance to play with Trout and Pujols. Maybe also a very likeable owner.

Trout/Pujols/Hamilton. Stats star power for sure!!!

[Jeff Fletcher]

I was going off of what Jeff Fletcher said which he shared here saying it was calculated on opening day.

You're confusing two things. The opening day reference was to Trout. If he signs a 2015 contract after 2014 had begun, it doesn't count.

But all money earned on 2014 contracts counts. For example, Raul Ibanez has a $2.75M base in 2014 but incentives can get it up to $5M. They won't know that figure till the year is over, and it will all count.

Award bonuses count too. That's why it's not calculated until December.

[Erick McClendon]

I hope the Yankees pay him 25 million a year and he pitches like Chan Ho Park. 

But he is not Korean. Sin Shoo Choo could though

[Erick McClendon]

Maybe the agent through out the 17 mil a year to start the bidding war to involve more teams so the end result might be a higher avg salary then if he just negotiated with the big payroll teams.

BINGO. pretty obvious to the thinking humans

[Chuck]

oh, are we still doing the "Paying a pitcher more than Weaver would be disrespectful to Jered" thing?

 

We were a year ago, which is why we didn't get Anabel Sanchez. They didn't want to pay him more than Weaver, which on the surface is about right, Weaver is much better... What they need to remember though is that Weaver took a hometown discount and I doubt he'd give a shit if a pitcher of quality made more money than him. 

[Tyler]

Offer $18MM annually and lets go.

[VariousCrap]

We were a year ago, which is why we didn't get Anabel Sanchez. They didn't want to pay him more than Weaver, which on the surface is about right, Weaver is much better... What they need to remember though is that Weaver took a hometown discount and I doubt he'd give a shit if a pitcher of quality made more money than him. 

 

 

 

Anabel Sanchez is now a better pitcher than Weaver.

[Mark68]

I'm not so sure he's worth it. Let someone else overpay. 

Honestly, if it's a choice of overpaying for Tanaka or overpaying for Garza, I would MUCH rather overpay for Tanaka. Not even close.

[wopphil]

he will have a translator anyway of Japanese decent

Really? I figured he would communicate with sign language. And I am sure that translator is a blast to go to bars with.

[Mark68]

If they even consider bidding that high, Arte's first phone call should be to Jered Weaver.

Why?

 

You think Weaver is so selfish that he wouldn't be on board with paying a pitcher that gives him a better shot at a ring?

 

People on here have a low opinion of Weaver, apparently.

[yvangelfan]

I see the only things the Angels have that others don't is the chance to play with Trout and Pujols. Maybe also a very likeable owner.

 

AND Blanton.

[HaloFan85]

I have no idea what Fletch said, but the 2013 tax calculations were released in the last few weeks.  I believe the Yanks had to pay something like $30 million.  I've read through the CBA and the calculation is definitely a year-end calculation.  The commissioner releases the report on December 2 and the tax is calculated based on actual time played.

That's correct because they define a contract year as being from 12/2 thru 12/1 of the following year, which I assume is because they pay their players on the 1st of each month.

 

They'd have to wait until after the season since that's the 'only' way for them to determine 'final' payroll for any given season.

[floplag]

I love the justifications... if you going to compare him to Darvish, and/or pay him like Darvish he should pitch like Darvish.. he doesnt, end of comparison.
If this wasnt such a down market for pitching he wouldnt even be getting this much press in my opinion.

[Brent Maguire]

I love the justifications... if you going to compare him to Darvish, and/or pay him like Darvish he should pitch like Darvish.. he doesnt, end of comparison.

If this wasnt such a down market for pitching he wouldnt even be getting this much press in my opinion.

Sorry but that's just dumb reasoning.

He's in a completely different situation and inflation has driven the price up for every free agent. If Darvish had been coming over this offseason under the same circumstances, he would be commanding the same deal.

Darvish wasn't really a free agent under the old rules. He negotiated with one team and that was it. Tanaka gets to pick where he wants to play which means the price will be much higher.

[Ohtaniland]

We were a year ago, which is why we didn't get Anabel Sanchez. They didn't want to pay him more than Weaver, which on the surface is about right, Weaver is much better... What they need to remember though is that Weaver took a hometown discount and I doubt he'd give a shit if a pitcher of quality made more money than him. 

 

Greinke's contract absolutely demolished Weaver's deal. 

[Stradling]

I love the justifications... if you going to compare him to Darvish, and/or pay him like Darvish he should pitch like Darvish.. he doesnt, end of comparison.

If this wasnt such a down market for pitching he wouldnt even be getting this much press in my opinion.

This is horrible logic.

[ten ocho recon scout]

Don't forget the allure of SoCal starlets. Tanaka might be hoping for some of that Hollywood 'tang.

oh, oh we get it AJ. Hes asian, so he'll want some tang. Geez, no attempt to hide it.

[ten ocho recon scout]

I think a lot of you are overestimating arte. He has repearedly said and shown he will open the wallet for the guy he wants. And he wants tanaka.

Does that mean he gets him? Nope, not hardly. But those thinking arte will scoff at overpaying this guy bexause he's not a number 1 are wrong.

That said, the one absolute roadblock that will stop us from going full bore and outbidding for him is trout....trouts contract is the organizations top priority right now.

Starting pitching to win today is the 'teams' most important thing. But trout is the organizations. Arte won't risk losing trout to FA in 2018.

So as much as I'd lov to land tanaka, I completely understand going cheaper with a maholm if the money is being saved for trout.

As has already been mentioned, sanchez would have been the absolute better move last year. And the crap part is sanchez wanted to come here too...

[edgur1995]

I say move on, sign Jason Hammel or Bronson Arroyo then go sign Suk-Min Yoon and Balfour and extend Trout. Call it an off season.

[tdawg87]

I say move on

 

...why?

[floplag]

Sorry but that's just dumb reasoning.

He's in a completely different situation and inflation has driven the price up for every free agent. If Darvish had been coming over this offseason under the same circumstances, he would be commanding the same deal.

Darvish wasn't really a free agent under the old rules. He negotiated with one team and that was it. Tanaka gets to pick where he wants to play which means the price will be much higher.

 

call it what you will that doesnt change the price that was paid for those services... free agent or not.

you can call it dumb all you want but i would argue paying more than darvish for less than dice-k is equally illogical... but thats me.

i hope we lose this one if the money is anywhere near that value

[Brent Maguire]

The biggest reason I believe they should sign him is the fact that many teams are locking up their good starters before free agency now.

Tanaka is young and has the upside to be our best pitcher in 2014. I fear that if they don't sign Tanaka, they'll overpay for Garza and will only be marginally better next year and in the future.

[Docwaukee]

call it what you will that doesnt change the price that was paid for those services... free agent or not.

you can call it dumb all you want but i would argue paying more than darvish for less than dice-k is equally illogical... but thats me.

i hope we lose this one if the money is anywhere near that value

'cmon flop.  The circumstances have totally changed here.  the guy is basically a free agent.  The market sets the price.  It's up to the team to set the players value and whether that price is commensurate relative to potential future available players and the anticipated market.  What a player got 2 years ago under a completely different scenario is like comparing an old apple to a new orange.