They are just posturing. That way they can whine when they are outbid, then start a fight with the rich teams ruining baseball because they are scrappy and play the game "the right way", then they will lose their division but it's ok because it's been documented that it's an unfair playing field, then they will whine again when a team pisses in their pool after they respectfully-disrespectfully whine for them not to, then they will whine some more, posture for another free agent next year they can't afford, and the cycle will continue... Worst franchise ever.
I fear he is right. Word is that KT and company had 140 allocated for Choo until they traded for Trumbo. That money is supposedly headed toward whatever it takes to land Tanaka.
People can say whatever they want about the scumbag DBacks, but IMO, they are going to score a whole lot of fucking runs with their lineup. And if they add another pitching piece, they will be with us every step of the way, right down to the wire. With less question marks than we do.... I think that every team in the NLW has improved themselves, and the Dodgers may have helped themslves with Haren....maybe. Outside of that, they are pretty much the same team, with the same holes they had, and minus a gamer and a great glove (which they could always use with their fielding woes) in letting Ellis get away. IDK what comes down the pike....no one does. But I can't help feeling they will trade one of the OF away for practically nothing. Or maybe just keep them all, and let DBB sort it out, which is a crap shoot at best, no doubt. The DBacks may be the leaders as a team in douchebaggery, cry like babies about their precious pool, have a douchebag FO that surely hates us, and a manager who, although an iconic piece of LAD history forever, might be he biggest worm in BB, but they've built themselves a damn good team.
I'm in the camp that believes the D'Backs are only in this to drive the price up and in the end say to their fanbase, "hey, we tried." Just can't see a franchise like that taking on a risk like Tanaka. That is why I think it will be down to the Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees and the Mariners with their dumb money. Rich teams can somewhat afford to hide a guy like Tanaka if he does not pan out, but if he falters on say the D'backs, they are now spending 15-2% of their yearly available funds on a back end of the rotation player. I just can't see them taking that sort of risk.
Can't see the D-Bags signing Tanaka. They've never been a team to commit that much money to one player.
Latest On Masahiro Tanaka By Zach Links [January 7 at 5:46pm CST] Free agent starters have largely been held up by Masahiro Tanaka, but Ubaldo Jimenez hasn't let them hurt his asking price. Want to sign the right-hander? It'll still cost you $14MM annually. While we wait to see how that plays out, here's the latest on the Japanese sensation.. Braves president John Schuerholz says that he's not in on Tanaka but that his club did their "due diligence" on him, tweets Jim Bowden of SiriusXM. The Angels may be a long shot to land Tanaka, but history shows us that they shouldn't be counted out, writes Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. Some would argue that it doesn't make sense for the Halos to spend big. On the other hand, Gonzalez writes that this is as good a time as any to splurge, because Tanaka is a free agent at a relatively young age, has more upside than any other available pitcher, won't cost a Draft pick, and the Angels badly need high-upside starting pitching. Tanaka will meet with the Cubs and White Sox this week, likely in Chicago, tweets Luke Stuckmeyer of CSNChicago.com. In a related story, Dodgers' General Manager Ned Colletti yawned, scratched his balls and went back to sleep. __
and then there is Irish again with the up close and personal ball scratching coverage at the scene of the crime...
Tanaka flew to the U.S. today and is expected to start meeting with MLB clubs in the coming days, according to a report from Nikkan Sports. imo, he's ours if we want him
^He was supposed to fly to Chicago but the weather caused them to fly here instead. You see Tanaka-san you are destined to be here!!
If this guy is in LA why didn't magic meet him at the airport? Aside from cheating on his wife, exploiting the inner cities for millions and hosting socialists at his house for dinner that's about all he's good at anymore.
