Could Angels land Tanaka in a stunner? (MLB.com article)

[rick99gtp]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/could-the-los-angeles-angels-pull-off-a-stunner-to-land-masahiro-tanaka?ymd=20140107&content_id=66362168&vkey=news_mlb

 

by Alden Gonzalez.

Edited January 7, 2014 by rick99gtp

[Chimi]

There's no way Dipoto can be confident with our starting rotation going into the season. They will have to add another starter before it's all said and done.

[Glen]

After the last two offseasons, the idea of the Angels signing Tanaka shouldn't be considered a "stunner."

[HaloMagic]

Those who don't think Tanaka is going to be good should be rooting for the Angels to sign him. It's the only way to guarantee they are right.

[Halos of Anaheim]

Those who don't think Tanaka is going to be good should be rooting for the Angels to sign him. It's the only way to guarantee they are right.

So many things right with this post. Seems like people here care more about being right than this team being well off. I bet if we signed Tanaka, most of these guys would still hope he sucks just so they can take their fingers out of their asses asking for validation.

[Stradling]

Yea no comment on that but would it really be that much of a surprise if the Angels signed him? I truly put the odds or us signing him around 20%. I also think we will have one of the top two bids. What I'm looking forward to (not really), is if Tanaka is perceived as an overpay (which he almost certainly will be) all the Trouters coming out with the, "how will Arte be able to afford Trout now"? Of course it will be the same group that wants us to sign Tanaka.

[Chimi]

I think the Angels are going to offer 5/$75MM and will maybe go to 6/$90MM if it means getting him. I don't think they will go any higher than that nor should they. You can't be paying an unproven number three starter over $100MM. I'm sure some team will though.

[Stradling]

The Angels will offer more than that chimi, whether or not they should is another question.

[WallyWorld]

I'm afraid there are too many deep-pocketed teams in need of pitching this offseason.  My guess is both Tanaka and Garza get stupid big offers from other clubs and the Angels end up signing 2 lower cost veterans (Capuano, Hammel, etc).  I wouldn't be too disappointed in this honestly.  I think signing Tanaka or Garza is way overpaying for mediocrity.

[sneaky_flute]

Tanaka has revealed that he wants a minimum of 17 million per year. It wouldn't surprise me if he got much more than that. 

[The_Outrunner]

Ideally I really hope they do land him, but there's always the flip side. I still hope we get him though

[Tyler]

Alden has become one of the best sources when it comes to Tanaka this off-season.

 

Or is it Dylan Hernandez? 

Edited January 8, 2014 by Shane

[mrwicked]

just sign him.

[Torridd]

Those who don't think Tanaka is going to be good should be rooting for the Angels to sign him. It's the only way to guarantee they are right.

Good one.

[Hubs]

I did the very complex AAV CBT math, and basically the Angels can afford to sign Tanaka for up to a $20 M AAV and be in just under the luxury tax. This assumes a roster with 10 league minimum guys. If they pay some of these guys more (Trout, Conger, Richards) then perhaps they'd have to cut Salas or Jepsen and replace them with someone making the league minimum.

 

Now, this assumes that Freese, Frieri, Jepsen, and Salas get the exact salary projected by MLB Trade Rumors. I assumed they cut Blanton but are still on the hook for his entire salary. 

 

It assumes no player who has incentives earns them. This is unlikely. Yet, no player has any big dollar incentives that would be earned against this year's CBT except Raul Ibanez. The total of all of the other players bonus would equal what Raul can earn which is 2.25 M. 

 

Now, they can trade a player midseason, and make up some bonus money, like Iannetta, if they really don't want to go over the tax.

 

As for Trout's extension, it's not necessary for four more years, and even if he sets records in Arbitration, they'd still not likely go over the CBT in any other year, except possibly 2015. But I doubt that, as they'd be about $7.5 million short of the CBT in 2015 if they do not sign any free agents, and kept Burnett but not Salas or Jepsen. If they kept all of those guys, they'd still not likely exceed it.

 

Consider that for the next two years you'd be set in the pen (as it's the only place the Angels do have minor league depth), the rotation (Weaver, Wilson, Tanaka, RIchards, Skaggs), the outfield (Trout, Hamilton, Calhoun) and Infield (Pujols, Kendrick, Aybar, Freese), and Catcher (Conger/Ianetta), and at DH (Ibanez /Cron/Green)…where do you need to spend money?

 

In 2016, Kendrick, Iannetta, Burnett, and Freese are free agents and most can be replaced by current minor leaguers in LIndsey, Maronde, and Cowart… the only spot the Angels will need to look at is Catcher and maybe DH.

 

In 2017, they'd have more issues with Weaver, Wilson, Frieri, Aybar and Smith being free agents but Stamets or Rondon could be ready to fill in for Aybar, plus they have pitching depth to replace Frieri and Smith… they'd need to look at the rotation, which by that point they could resign one of their two starters (Weaver) and still be well under the cap to add another starter, or anywhere else they wanted to add someone new.

 

In 2018, Trout and Hamilton will be FA, as well as Conger and Richards, but they should have the money to resign all of them if they wanted to, though I'd think Hamilton will be gone. Even with Trout getting $30 Million per season, Tanaka getting $20, and Pujols getting $24 they'd still have more than 90M in room depending on the CBT number. 

 

Tanaka is affordable, because they have young players in the majors now, making next to nothing. It might be a squeeze for 2014, but 2015 and all future years look good if they can draft well, and players in their system at least turn out to be regulars or bench depth. 

[TroutAdell]

The Yankees will way over pay. Garza, to me, is more risky than Tanaka. I would rather sign another solid arm for the pen than commit long term to a mediocre starter.

Arte will have the last word on Tanaka. My guess he won't go 6/115 to get him. I am fine with that.

[Angel Oracle]

Hubs, here's an idea for catcher after 2014, if the Halos can find a trade partner by then for Iannetta's last contract year in 2015 and this guy isn't re-signed by the Bucs. 

Russell Martin, still only turning 32 in 2015, is a FA after 2014.

OPS is generally around low .700s, and CS% is generally between 30-40%, plus he gets solid marks for his work behind the plate in general.

It would mean spending a few million extra over Iannetta, but: 

 

Martin >>>>> Iannetta.

Edited January 7, 2014 by Angel Oracle

[tdawg87]

I don't know about a "stunner" but I think the Angels could pull off a shocker.

[HaloFan85]

The only way he becomes an Angel is if Arte not only goes over the threshold, but is willing to go over by a lot considering Trout's impending extension.

[HaloMagic]

I don't know about a "stunner" but I think the Angels could pull off a shocker.

I don't know how many they have in the pink but I count way more than one in the stink on the pitching staff alone.

[tdawg87]

I believe that is referred to as the "Show Stopper".

[Spirit]

I don't know how many they have in the pink but I count way more than one in the stink on the pitching staff alone.

 

 

Locking thread. 

[Tank]

i'm having lunch with tanaka tomorrow. i'll see if i can find out what's going on.

[tdawg87]

i'm having lunch with tanaka tomorrow. i'll see if i can find out what's going on.

 

Better be at PF Changs. Chinese people love authentic, real chinese food.

[mtangelsfan]

I thought he was Korean?