Angels Official Website: Angels said to be among Tanaka's favorites

[AngelsWin.com]

The Angels offer a prime location, boast a star-studded team and have available funds. And according to a weekend report from the Japanese publication Sports Hochi, that combination has made them among three favorites -- along with the Yankees and Dodgers -- to land coveted 25-year-old right-hander Masahiro Tanaka.

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[ten ocho recon scout]

Wish it were true, but I think its more his agent trying to up the bid from wherever he really wants to go

[Jimmag]

Location location location.what's not to like about this area? Think it will be the Halos or Dodgers. Please let it be us.

I agree ten ocho it will also come down to the dollars.

[Angel Oracle]

I hope he's aware that the Skanks have virtually no true infield and also have holes in their pitching staff.

[Stradling]

I don't believe everything that Dipoto has said. Well, I believe that they didn't meet with him while he was here, but it doesn't mean that there haven't been conversations and even an offer. I am pretty sure we have done a little more than merely kick the tires on this one.

[Blarg]

On MLB Network they kept pimping the Yankees as having the resources (now that Cano and A-Rod are off the books) and mentioned the Dodgers and a couple other teams but not one word about the Angels.

[Blarg]

A sleeper on the West Coast is the SF Giants that are well under the salary cap and offer one of the more beautiful cities in the world to live in if you have the money. Tanaka will have no shortage of money.

[Stradling]

Well, better SF than LA unless of course it's LAA.

[nate]

Meanwhile it was reported that the Angels didn't even meet with him.  Only one more week before he has to sign right?

[Chimi]

If Tanaka goes to the Yankees it's because he wants to be a Yankee. They're probably the 4th best team in their division right now.

[KingJustinian]

Why do the dodgers want him, unless they don't plan on keeping Kershaw?

[ettin]

I don't believe everything that Dipoto has said. Well, I believe that they didn't meet with him while he was here, but it doesn't mean that there haven't been conversations and even an offer. I am pretty sure we have done a little more than merely kick the tires on this one.

 

Actually I believe quite a bit of what Dipoto said. He strikes me as the type who won't lie in press interviews. However he will mask the truth. For instance Dipoto is quoted as saying the Angels didn't meet with Tanaka when he was in Los Angeles. I believe that.

 

However, like you said Stradling,  I also believe that the Angels have already met with him previously or plan to meet with him very soon. The Angels could possibly be the team that was quoted in the other news article (from a random National League GM) as the "team that will swoop in and outbid everyone".

 

The bottom line is that the Angels have to have kicked the tires on this one and Dipoto clearly doesn't want to give away negotiating leverage in any way shape or form. Dipoto doesn't have to lie but he can word his phrases and responses to give the impression the Angels are disinterested while simultaneously masking a different intent.

 

Or we could just not be in on Tanaka?

[Jimmag]

Here is another way to look at it. He may want make his own/team identity and be with a team without other countrymen.

Yanks have  Kuroda

Seattle has Iwakuma

Texas has Darvish

Dodgers have Ryu (ok, so he is Korean)

 

The Angels will have...fill in the space... T _ _ _ a

[HaloFan85]

Here is another way to look at it. He may want make his own/team identity and be with a team without other countrymen.

Yanks have  Kuroda

Seattle has Iwakuma

Texas has Darvish

Dodgers have Ryu (ok, so he is Korean)

 

The Angels will have...fill in the space... T _ _ _ a

That's what was said yesterday on MLBN as well, that there are ramblings going around that he doesn't want to play second fiddle to any of his fellow countrymen.

[Chuck]

Actually I believe quite a bit of what Dipoto said. He strikes me as the type who won't lie in press interviews. However he will mask the truth. For instance Dipoto is quoted as saying the Angels didn't meet with Tanaka when he was in Los Angeles. I believe that.

 

However, like you said Stradling,  I also believe that the Angels have already met with him previously or plan to meet with him very soon. The Angels could possibly be the team that was quoted in the other news article (from a random National League GM) as the "team that will swoop in and outbid everyone".

 

The bottom line is that the Angels have to have kicked the tires on this one and Dipoto clearly doesn't want to give away negotiating leverage in any way shape or form. Dipoto doesn't have to lie but he can word his phrases and responses to give the impression the Angels are disinterested while simultaneously masking a different intent.

 

Or we could just not be in on Tanaka?

 

There could be some truth to this.

 

Arte flew to Texas to meet with Hamilton at his home. I can see a private meeting with Tanaka in Japan before or after he came to meet with other teams. The Angels like to do their business politely and do not like to get involved in bidding wars opening.

 

All I know is the Angels are tight lipped on this and generally when they're out or not interested in a player, they'll tell me. Not the case.

[laagamer]

We haven't talked to him. Hate to say it, but I don't think we're going to get this guy. Less than 1% IMO. 

[Stradling]

Less than 1%? Can you give us a break down of the other percentages of teams involved? So the Yankees would be, what like 48%, Dodgers 51.5%?

[laagamer]

Pretty much. Giants are outside shot. 

[Cdaniel]

I just want something to happen one way or the other.

[fan_since79]

He'll go to whoever offers him the most money. Weather, location, etc are irrelevant anymore. It's all about the gazillions of dollars.

 

Arte had better have a big checkbook.

[Sully151]

Of course he didn't meet with the Angels in Los Angeles. He met with them in Anaheim.

[Angel Oracle]

At a Del Taco on the 5

[AngelsLakersFan]

If Tanaka didn't visit the Big A then he isn't signing here. Who would sign with a team in a city at a park he hadn't visited?

[Ohtaniland]

So are we out?

 

 

http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/1/14/5307994/masahiro-tanaka-mlb-free-agent-rumors-contract

[Docwaukee]

If Tanaka didn't visit the Big A then he isn't signing here. Who would sign with a team in a city at a park he hadn't visited?

if someone deposited $2mil a month in my bank account for the next 7 years, I'd play for the Lompoc Lubers