Question re Tanaka's services

[Torridd]

When a GM tries to sway a free agent to his club, could (or should) he also demean another area or try to dissaude against going somewhere else? Would romancing a free agent be just about hyping your area or does anything go?

[tdawg87]

Good question. I think there is a rule against demeaning another team as a negotiating tactic though I'm not sure. It's probably a blurry line though regardless.

[gotbeer]

Yeah, I would think of more hyping your club and area as opposed to tearing another down.  Because it can be a two way street.  Whatever you tell bad about another club, and when they talk, and you mention what you heard, and they flat out disprove it.  Could disuade them as thinking you weren't truthful.  

[Chimi]

This only happens if Lane Kiffin is your GM.

[Torridd]

Good points. It is possible demeaning an area, even if it's something everyone knows (LA - smog , Seattle - rain), then the player, and perhaps especially a Japanese player, may not see that club as "honorable." 

[UCLAngel]

I doubt GMs do this very often. It's too easy for a player to cross check a GM's claims. Making false claims would kill credibility quickly. Now, if the disparaging comments are completely true and presented in a tasteful way, it's likely a different story.

[Torridd]

I was thinking about true, but demeaning statements.

[Brent Maguire]

I doubt they do anything with any intent toward degrading another team or city.

These guys are professionals and probably approach negotiating in a good way. I'm sure they try to sell their team and city as much as possible. I doubt that they try to make an example of another team or city though.

[ettin]

Brian Cashman: "We'll pay you a very respectable and fair salary Mr. Tanaka! We have the best fans in the world and our World Series wins are legendary in the annals of baseball history! I mean really why would you even think about playing in Chavez Latrine.....errrr..... Ravine, sorry slip of the tongue."

 

Ned Coletti: "We'll pay you a very respectable and fair salary Mr. Tanaka! We have the best fans in the world, have won mulitple World Series, and many of the games greatest legends have played in Dodger blue! I mean why would you want to go to the East coast and deal with horrible winters, playing for the Skankees..... errr..... Yankess, sorry slip of the tongue."

 

Jerry Dipoto: "Who would you rather play with? Mike Trout, Hanley Ramirez, or Alex Rodriguez? Thought so, sign here please...."

[Docwaukee]

Brian Cashman: "We'll pay you a very respectable and fair salary Mr. Tanaka! We have the best fans in the world and our World Series wins are legendary in the annals of baseball history! I mean really why would you even think about playing in Chavez Latrine.....errrr..... Ravine, sorry slip of the tongue."

 

Ned Coletti: "We'll pay you a very respectable and fair salary Mr. Tanaka! We have the best fans in the world, have won mulitple World Series, and many of the games greatest legends have played in Dodger blue! I mean why would you want to go to the East coast and deal with horrible winters, playing for the Skankees..... errr..... Yankess, sorry slip of the tongue."

 

Jerry Dipoto: "Who would you rather play with? Mike Trout, Hanley Ramirez, or Alex Rodriguez? Thought so, sign here please...."

Tanaka - 'So then I should sign with Philly?'

[gotbeer]

Tanaka - 'So then I should sign with Philly?'

 

LOL.

[Dave Saltzer]

For a player like this, it's more about what the tone and future of the organization is. Go back and listen to both the Pujols and Hamilton pressers. Both talked about the feel they got from the organization. Both talked about how they liked the direction and the future of the franchise. A GM and owner trying to set the right feel isn't going to bother tearing down another organization (any boss who does that is just showing that in the end, s/he will tear you down in the end if the results aren't met). I would bet that they go into the meeting doing more listening to what the player's goals and desires are and then show how those can best be met by the Angels . . . along with a big check!

[mrwicked]

its business - anything goes.

[Ohtaniland]

Showing pictures of the Oakland County Coliseum and its surrounding area usually works pretty good.

[IEAngelsfan]

I wonder if Dipoto will "accidentally" be watching John Carpenter's "Escape from New York" when Tanaka and his agent arrive for their meeting.

[Torridd]

Good one IE!

[VariousCrap]

It is all about money and years.  Whoever offers Tanaka the most will get him.

[Dave Saltzer]

It is all about money and years. Whoever offers Tanaka the most will get him.

Believe it or not, it really doesn't come down to that with every players or even most of the players. I know of several on the Angels and several on other organizations who left money on the table. Most of the offers, especially for the elites are fairly comparable and it more often than not comes down to the fit between the player and the organization.

[arch stanton]

Anyone who drives through the Bronx then tells you they signed with the Yankees for anything besides the money was clearly blindfolded and possibly drugged.

[Mark68]

Good question. I think there is a rule against demeaning another team as a negotiating tactic though I'm not sure. It's probably a blurry line though regardless.

I think it would open Pandora's Box. Even if your "private" negotiations are ever made public, let's say, by a disgruntled employee, or an agent who is trying to stroke his own (or his client's) ego, every other GM will be free to denigrate you and your team (at least).

 

I believe GMs have a moral and ethical obligation to sell free agents on the benefit of coming to their team by not insulting others.

 

If a GM wants to use readily available statistics, such as tax rates, cost of living, demographics, etc, in comparison to other teams, I think that's fair.

 

But to say "don't sign with this team because their GM is a lying douche" or "they have no respect for (ethnicity) players" or something along those lines is out of bounds.