The Ultimate Champion Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 If the Sox are in this and the DBacks are too I bet contract structure and flexibility are key elements that he and his agent are weighing equally with money. The Yankees are still my favorite to sign him though, followed by the Dodgers. I wouldn't mind Kenny swinging a Billingsley deal if the Dodgers get him or else do a deal like DeAza for Soriano or something with the Yankees where we supply value and take back a salary, gaining a prospect in the process. I think the Sox are swirling overhead and if they can't be first to Tanaka they'll at least be on the scraps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flavum Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 It would be great to see Sale and Tanaka paired up. Never thought Abreu was coming here, so you never know. Hahn's been creative before. Maybe a 6-7 yr deal with an opt-out after 3 or 4. That would be a great way to make Soxfest an interesting event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pettie4sox Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 To acquire the best hitter in Cuba and the best pitcher in Japan in a off season would be nothing short of extraordinary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxfest Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 11:49 AM) To acquire the best hitter in Cuba and the best pitcher in Japan in a off season would be nothing short of extraordinary. Would be a heck of a haul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 11:34 AM) Maybe Fukudome can relate his experience on the north side to Tanaka. We can only hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whisox05 Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 (edited) Cbs sports/ jon heyman Sox seen as threat http://mweb.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-h...o-beat-yanks-la Edited January 17, 2014 by WhiteSoxLifer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fathom Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 07:09 PM) Cbs sports/ jon heyman Sox seen as threat http://mweb.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-h...o-beat-yanks-la Sure seems like a lot of smoke for the Cubs the last 36 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GGajewski18 Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 12:09 PM) Cbs sports/ jon heyman Sox seen as threat http://mweb.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-h...o-beat-yanks-la Get it done Hahn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 12:12 PM) Sure seems like a lot of smoke for the Cubs the last 36 hours. There's been just as much for several other teams, and I frankly don't believe 90+% of what's being reported right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fathom Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 06:16 PM) There's been just as much for several other teams, and I frankly don't believe 90+% of what's being reported right now. Agreed, but now we're getting reports of other MLB owners that think the Cubs are in a great position to get him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ultimate Champion Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 "Once Tanaka signs, things should start sorting themselves out for top MLB free-agent pitchers, with Matt Garza, Ervin Santana, Ubaldo Jimenez and Bronson Arroyo four top-flight starters still available. " Not sure I'd go that far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 12:18 PM) Agreed, but now we're getting reports of other MLB owners that think the Cubs are in a great position to get him. I would pay to have been there and have Tanaka or his agent pull out the Hory Kow shirt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose Abreu Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 I'm on break right now. Why are there like six new pages? What happened? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GGajewski18 Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 12:25 PM) I'm on break right now. Why are there like six new pages? What happened? There's no favorite yet. Despite all these rumors. Heyman did write an article today saying Cubs and Sox are serious contenders for Tanaka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ultimate Champion Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 (edited) QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 12:18 PM) Agreed, but now we're getting reports of other MLB owners that think the Cubs are in a great position to get him. They're not in position to win. They're not in position to even contend. They're in position to offer a s***load of money, that's all. Maybe they can offer so much money that the deal is bad the second it's signed. If so and they sign him to that, good for them: that means they're doing everything wrong. The DBacks can offer $$$ too and are in a much better spot to win. I'd argue the Sox are too, even with their position prospects these guys are still prospects. Sox have lots of pitching already in the Majors. The Yankees and Dodgers are definitely much further along than the Cubs are too. And even if the Cubs want to offer a massive deal, if Tanaka wants an opt-out to test FA before 30 - and if he demands it especially - he is going to get it. And if that is what he wants then why in the hell would he want to spend 3 years with the Cubs for example when he could spend that time with a winner? We don't know what Tanaka is exactly looking for but all the Cubs can offer is money and a rough idea of what they believe their future is going to look like. With so many suitors, especially if flexibility is an issue, the Cubs offer doesn't look so good. I think the Yankees get him because they are probably given the ability to match or beat whatever the best deals are. The Yankees will go beyond the tax if they have to in order to get this guy. They'll give him years, money, and an opt-out if they have to. JMO. Dodgers next in line. Edited January 17, 2014 by The Ultimate Champion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 I still feel like Cubs don't actually have anything close to the money to sign Tanaka and are just making a bunch of noise to get their fans interested and think they're trying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fathom Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 Joe Ostrowski @JoeO670 7m Cubs are now the favorites to land Masahiro Tanaka on @BovadaLV. Cubs 3/2, Yankees 2/1, Dodgers 5/1, White Sox & Mariners 10/1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose Abreu Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 12:38 PM) Joe Ostrowski @JoeO670 7m Cubs are now the favorites to land Masahiro Tanaka on @BovadaLV. Cubs 3/2, Yankees 2/1, Dodgers 5/1, White Sox & Mariners 10/1. DBacks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fathom Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 06:38 PM) I still feel like Cubs don't actually have anything close to the money to sign Tanaka and are just making a bunch of noise to get their fans interested and think they're trying. I completely disagree...their payroll is so low right now. This is the guy they've been targeting all offseason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 12:39 PM) I completely disagree...their payroll is so low right now. This is the guy they've been targeting all offseason. I said it before, the Cubs need the good news for their fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 The whole "Ricketts family in $700M of debt, haven't even started investing in Wrigley renovations" bit makes me skeptical of it all. Nothing will surprise me, of course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabiness42 Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 Joe Ostrowski @JoeO670 7m Cubs are now the favorites to land Masahiro Tanaka on @BovadaLV. Cubs 3/2, Yankees 2/1, Dodgers 5/1, White Sox & Mariners 10/1. What would be more fun that the disappointment of Cubs fans in not getting Tanaka? The Cubs getting bet down to a 3/2 favorite right before not getting him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
royoung Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 12:29 PM) They're not in position to win. They're not in position to even contend. They're in position to offer a s***load of money, that's all. Maybe they can offer so much money that the deal is bad the second it's signed. If so and they sign him to that, good for them: that means they're doing everything wrong. The DBacks can offer $$$ too and are in a much better spot to win. I'd argue the Sox are too, even with their position prospects these guys are still prospects. Sox have lots of pitching already in the Majors. The Yankees and Dodgers are definitely much further along than the Cubs are too. And even if the Cubs want to offer a massive deal, if Tanaka wants an opt-out to test FA before 30 - and if he demands it especially - he is going to get it. And if that is what he wants then why in the hell would he want to spend 3 years with the Cubs for example when he could spend that time with a winner? We don't know what Tanaka is exactly looking for but all the Cubs can offer is money and a rough idea of what they believe their future is going to look like. With so many suitors, especially if flexibility is an issue, the Cubs offer doesn't look so good. I think the Yankees get him because they are probably given the ability to match or beat whatever the best deals are. The Yankees will go beyond the tax if they have to in order to get this guy. They'll give him years, money, and an opt-out if they have to. JMO. Dodgers next in line. I hate the Cubs as much as the next guy, but they aren't in as bad a shape as everyone makes them out to be. In 2015 they could easily field a monster lineup with Rizzo, Castro, Baez, Soler, Bryant, Alcantara, Almora, and Olt all in the mix. I know a lot of those guys aren't major league proven, but their top four prospects (Baez, Soler, Bryant, Almora) all have all-star potential. Their farm beats the hell out of ours so I am not convinced selling our future is as big an advantage as everyone makes it out to be. Just stating a probable unpopular opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 12:59 PM) I hate the Cubs as much as the next guy, but they aren't in as bad a shape as everyone makes them out to be. In 2015 they could easily field a monster lineup with Rizzo, Castro, Baez, Soler, Bryant, Alcantara, Almora, and Olt all in the mix. I know a lot of those guys aren't major league proven, but their top four prospects (Baez, Soler, Bryant, Almora) all have all-star potential. Their farm beats the hell out of ours so I am not convinced selling our future is as big an advantage as everyone makes it out to be. Just stating a probable unpopular opinion. There is a greater chance that they all bust, versus they all succeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harfman77 Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 I am still not convinced the Sox are going to be in it at the end. What I am convinced of is that they are going to make it seem like they to drive his price up. That is why KW leaving incognito mode makes sense. Let it sound like the market is going to be really deep so that you can get the Cubs or Yankees to seriously over spend. If the Sox were to sign Tanaka, there is a lot of pressure on Hahn to upgrade the roster this season. That would mean getting a C and an established 3B so the team could compete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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