if Tanaka joins the Dodgers and performs up to snuff...meaning he eventually becomes a high-end #2 that's maybe better than Greinke...ownership will cash in on his presence. he'll be the new Nomo and Dodgers/Tanaka jerseys will fly off the shelf in Japan...Dodgers will become Japan's team. so if the question is " is he worth it "...for an ownership group's pockets who's looking to make a dollar or two after spending so much, yes. he could be worth that and more.
My response to SC was in that using the Dodgers as winners as a selling point. Your spin, though valid, has really zero to do with my point. In fact, that's the same thing he could say about us isn't it? Only he'd be referring to two decades earlier..."the Dodgers won it all in 88-they're winners for sure". Even more ludacris than the hypothetical Yankee statement. Being "close" means zero also. It's the misery of the Brooklyn Dodgers, redux. They have an old saying about being close , but no cigar. As you know, one aspect it reflects is the true value of "supposed to win , but just don't". There's a picture of the LAD are in the dictionary as an example of that. But in the end, I hope you are right.
I don't think you can really equate the historical success of a franchise with current success and probability for immediate success. I doubt Tanaka gives 2 shits about when we last won a World Series.
Astros owner Jim Crane says that the team is interested in Tanaka, reports Brian McTaggart of MLB.com (via Twitter). We heard yesterday that Houston may have been one of the clubs to have met with Tanaka and his representatives. It is still not known, of course, whether the 'Stros interest has manifested itself as a competitive, formal offer. lol, yeah like the astros are going to open their wallet...
The Astros and Cubs are dangerous because they both have the room to totally overpay and could potentially sell Tanaka on their loaded farm teams.
from a yankees blogger If you were Tanaka wouldn’t you go to the Dodgers? Posted by Kate Conroy | Yankees Hot Stove Author Nicholas Sparks once wrote, “Truth only means something when it’s hard to admit.” New York Yankees fans need to embrace the above because reality is the only time Japanese pitching phenom Masahiro Tanaka will be pitching in the Bronx is when his team is sitting in the visitor’s dugout. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Tanaka is a winner. Posting a 24-0 record, Tanaka didn’t lose a start in 2013, and led his team all the way to being crowned Japan Series Champions. Tanaka has obviously proven he is a fierce competitor, and where he decides to pitch in MLB will weigh heavily on which of his many suitors will help him do just that. Too many Yankees fans live under the illusion that the allure of wearing the pinstripes means something to Tanaka. Five years age after winning the 2009 World Series it might have been true but that is no longer the case. Half the players from the 2009 Yankees roster are still on it in 2014. The future of the franchise is about as unappealing as any Yankees hater could dreamed about, as the farm system is rotten. The 2014 Yankees have fixed the problem behind the dish but have created two new ones at second and third base. Not to mention a shortstop that is 40 years old with a bum leg. Yankees ownership won’t spend a dime to solidify a bullpen that will be sans Mariano Rivera for the first time in almost two-decades. Now is that what a winning picture looks like to you? The lure of the Yankees pinstripes has everything to do with the team’s current success and not as much the history of championships won eons ago. If I were to predict the 2014 Yankees today, I would say they would win 80-82 games. And without fail are destined to miss the postseason, again; and Yankees Universe should be ready for a lot of DL stints, again. The Yankees are one of a supposed 10-teams to have made an offer to Tanaka, who has until Friday at 5pm to make his choice official. As a Yankees fan, this hurts to admit but if Tanaka wants to win, he should without question sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. My reasons…..the Dodgers are much younger; a rotation featuring Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke inked for the next four years; a bullpen featuring closer Brian Wilson; have many top prospects down on the farm; and have pockets as deep as the late, great George Steinbrenner to fix things only money can buy. The bottom line is if Tanaka wants to win, the Dodgers give him the best odds. Any questions? __
from mlbtraderumors... Teams bidding on Tanaka are "in for at least 6 or 7 years," reports Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com (on Twitter). The average annual value will be at or above $20MM, Levine adds. Put those numbers together, of course, and Levine's report suggests that Tanaka will command at least $120MM (in addition, presumably, to the $20MM posting fee). __
Literally seen this same report in the neighborhood of 13+ times. Just some rearranged words to say the same exact thing. This is the only sports story to distract me this off-season. Waiting for an end hopefully soon.
I wouldn't laugh. I remember seeing an article that the Astros were THE most profitable team in baseball last year, thanks to their TV deal.
and thanks to them not spending a lick on their team as well. ARod made more money than everybody on their team combined. lol
Their 2014 payroll is already over 2013...with only 8 players signed. Still not a lot of money, but shows they have money ...
from sb nation... Even after signing Clayton Kershaw to a massive $210 million deal, the Dodgers believe they can still afford to splurge on Tanaka. However, their interest in him has appeared to fluctuate. At first they seemed reluctant to enter a bidding war. Then they became the favorite to sign him. Now the Dodgers are reportedly third in the running behind New York and Chicago. The team seemingly doesn't have a cap to how much it can spend right now. In short, if the Dodgers want Tanaka, they can afford him. Nevertheless, they already have a top-of-the-line rotation, and may choose to take a pass on a player who has never pitched professionally in America. General manager Ned Colletti reportedly talks to Tanaka's representatives nearly every day. The Dodgers may or may not be willing to outbid everyone for Tanaka. http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/1/21/5330898/masahiro-tanaka-free-agent-rumors-yankees-dodgers-cubs __
i've gotta give it to our management...they've played it cool for the most part. but we all know how valuable a young, Japanese pitcher with possible ace potential could be in Los Angeles...it's a weighed risk with the reward being insurmountable. imagine the Japanese contingent at every home game...hell, even on the road.
Yankees To Sign Masahiro Tanaka By Steve Adams [January 22 at 8:42am CST] The Yankees will sign Masahiro Tanaka to a massive seven-year, $155MM contract that contains an opt-out after the fourth season, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Tanaka is represented by Excel Sports Management. sorry, guys. we move on and start looking at David Price i suppose. lets get Hanley his $$$
