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Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

Edgy MD Dec 17 2013 08:22 AM

He's a still-young star Japanese pitcher looking to transfer to MLB and now that the new posting agreement is in effect (less lucrative for the posting club), Rakuten isn't so sure they want to let him go. [fimg=250]http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/547/226/hi-res-163368525-pitcher-masahiro-tanaka-of-japan-pitches-during-the_crop_north.jpg?w=650&h=440&q=75[/fimg] [fimg=250]http://sitracking.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/tanaka.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=250]http://www.wcbsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/111113-Tanaka.jpg[/fimg] The guy went 22-0 with a 1.23 ERA last year, so people probably are actually singing about him. Derek Jeter seems to talk like the Yankees have some sort of right of first refusal with him.

seawolf17 Dec 17 2013 08:24 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanakaka

(Tanaka, not Tanakaka.) I hear the kid's got marbles.

Ceetar Dec 17 2013 08:28 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanakaka

Can we call him Tiger? Anyway, I think people just cherry picked the Yankees because they could pay the stupid posting fee if it was like $60 million, but at $20m there will be a bidding war, no doubt.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 17 2013 08:40 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanakaka

Masahiro Tanakaka is the thing they say When you want a pitching ace today That's the guy we're posting and we'll send to you For the price of ten Dice Ks Here in Rakuten where the Eagles fly He won the Japanese version of the Cy Masahiro Tanakaka is the thing we say Bidding starts at $20 million today

Edgy MD Dec 17 2013 08:49 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanakaka

seawolf17 wrote: (Tanaka, not Tanakaka.) I hiccupped.

Edgy MD Dec 17 2013 10:20 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

Jeter aside, it's hard not to see this guy as the mysterious missing piece of the Yankees' offseason plan. And iherefore, certainly something to root against. Or at least root for the bidding to make it painful for the Yanks. Wearing the belt high like that is not going to protect him from Hideki Irabu comparisons.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 18 2013 10:54 PM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

He's interesting, but, y'know, not something to go-go-go-go-go nuts over. [youtube]iczNuQ_ZTAU#t=46[/youtube]

Frayed Knot Dec 19 2013 06:52 PM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

May not be posted after all this winter according to various Japanese news outlets.

Edgy MD Dec 24 2013 10:16 PM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

News in the last hour says he will indeed be posted. Merry Christmas, America.

MFS62 Dec 25 2013 07:29 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

Edgy MD wrote: News in the last hour says he will indeed be posted. Merry Christmas, America. The local New York sportscaster* who announced the posting on NBC last night was practically orgasmic, speculating that the Yanks would get him. Later * not the regular guy, didn't get his name.

Frayed Knot Dec 26 2013 06:48 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

New transfer rules for NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) players to MLB: - NPB can notify MLB of a player it wishes to be 'Posted' any time between November 1 and February 1 - any MLB team wishing to meet the posting price can do so at a posting price that can be set at any level not exceeding $20 million dollars. Obviously with this guy it'll be for the max amount but future posting may be at lesser levels for lesser players. - all teams willing to meet the posting price can negotiate with the player, but only the one who eventually signs him to a deal owes the NPB team the fee. Also the player and/or his rep are not required to meet with each MLB team who met the posting price - Once posted, there is a 30-day window for negotiations and for an agreement to be reached - in this case that means a January 24th at 5 PM (EDT?) deadline. - If no contract is agreed to the player's rights revert back to his NPB team and he can not be posted again until next November 1st IOW, the fees are now capped and salary will be determined by more of an open market rather than via the old system which pretty much operated the other way around. The obvious intent here is that more of signing team's money winds up with the player while being less of a windfall to his old team. Various reports list the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, Braves, Rangers and Diamondbacks as current frontrunners, with one adding the the Cubs "will not be out-bid" for Tanaka but that convincing him to come to Chicago might be difficult.

seawolf17 Dec 26 2013 07:59 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

Come on, Mets. Go for it.

Ceetar Dec 26 2013 08:06 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

There is really no harm whatsoever in bidding for him now. Maybe he's in your price range, or maybe just adding another team that's "interested" in him raises his demands and makes others have to shell out a little more, which while not worth a ton, is certainly worth simply saying "Sure, I'll talk to you."

Edgy MD Dec 26 2013 08:07 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

It'd be nice. But historically, it's hard to say how many top-dollar postees this side of Ichiro have been worth it. Pitchers are fragile, their success is ephemeral, and Japanese pitchers come with whatever mileage they come with.

Centerfield Dec 26 2013 09:59 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

Edgy MD wrote: It'd be nice. But historically, it's hard to say how many top-dollar postees this side of Ichiro have been worth it. Pitchers are fragile, their success is ephemeral, and Japanese pitchers come with whatever mileage they come with. That hurts man. I mean, do you not remember the last four starts that closed out my season? I'm just sayin' is all.

Frayed Knot Dec 26 2013 10:30 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

Centerfield wrote: That hurts man. I mean, do you not remember the last four starts that closed out my season? I'm just sayin' is all. We also remember the 50 wins (33 of them in the first two seasons) that the Red Sox got from you for their $100+ million. Years three-thru-six of the deal looked more like 17-22; 5.53; 1.54 WHiP on a total of 55 starts/296 IPs Matsuzaka was 26 when he signed with Boston, Tanaka just turned 25 And while it's not totally fair to compare Japanese pitchers strictly to other Japanese pitchers as if they all come off the same assembly line (it's like in the NBA where white players only get compared to other white players and black to black) the pitchers from there do tend to hit FA young but only because they come up younger and also tend to be worked hard (even if somewhat less often) from a young age.

Edgy MD Dec 26 2013 10:35 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

Not that I don't love the idea of a pitcher who doesn't lose. I do.

Centerfield Dec 26 2013 11:17 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

All kidding aside, I wonder what effect Matsuzaka's bad contract will have on Tanaka. At the time, Matsuzaka was supposed to be every bit at good as this guy, and it was evident as soon as he came over (even while winning) that there were a lot of holes in Dice-K's game.

Edgy MD Dec 26 2013 11:24 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

I guess, with the new posting rules, the Masuzaka contract has already had an effect on Lt. Tanaka.

Frayed Knot Dec 26 2013 11:25 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

On the flip side, I think the stRangers have every reason to be happy with Darvish to this point.

metsmarathon Dec 26 2013 11:28 AM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

and then there's yu darvish, y'know... oe. yeah, what he said there.

Ashie62 Dec 26 2013 08:05 PM Re: Let's Sing About Masahiro Tanaka

He has MFYs written all over him... Dodgers might give it run though...