$20 million max posting fee looks to be coming for Japanese posti

[southsider2k5]

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi 1m

 

One GM interested in Tanaka believes he will, in fact, be posted. I expect we will find out for sure in next 24-48 hours.

[southsider2k5]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10118679...-posting-system

 

Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball have agreed in principle to a new posting system for Japanese players that have not reached free agency, according to multiple media reports.

 

The new posting system must be ratified by MLB's executive council and Japanese owners, a formality that could be completed this week, according to reports.

 

Under the new system, the maximum amount MLB teams can bid for a Japanese player will be $20 million. If more than one team submits the maximum $20 million bid, the player can negotiate a contract with any of those teams.

 

Players will have a 30-day window to negotiate a contract once a bid has been posted, according to the New York Post. Once an MLB team agrees to a contract with the player, it would then owe the posting bid to the Japanese team, according to the Post.

[Kyyle23]

So in the end, the big market teams will continue to win. Good job, baseball.

[maggsmaggs]

So in the end, the big market teams will continue to win. Good job, baseball.

Yeah, I don't really see how this changes anything. Now, it's just the player that will be rewarded with an even more exorbitant contract because the posting fees will be lower.

[Texsox]

It's the owners trying to save themselves from themselves.

[Kyyle23]

It's the owners trying to save themselves from themselves.

 

They arent, really. they may reduce the posting fee, but they are still going to give out large dumb contracts to players that have never played against MLB competition

[Milkman delivers]

So yeah, this just makes it somewhat cheaper for New York, Boston, and LA to sign them.

[Dick Allen]

So yeah, this just makes it somewhat cheaper for New York, Boston, and LA to sign them.

And whatever they save from the posting fee, they probably will have to spend on the player given there will actually be competition. I am surprised the Japanese teams agreed to this.

[Kyyle23]

And whatever they save from the posting fee, they probably will have to spend on the player given there will actually be competition. I am surprised the Japanese teams agreed to this.

 

I am curious as to how the Japanese teams ownership of the players rights works. If the Japanese teams didnt agree to it, then you have to wonder if the players will find some sort of a loophole in their free agency to just go to the US. The Japanese teams want to get money merely for offering these players up, they dont want to be left with no player and no money.

[Chicago White Sox]

And whatever they save from the posting fee, they probably will have to spend on the player given there will actually be competition. I am surprised the Japanese teams agreed to this.

If that does happen, then it will hurt big market teams though. The posting fees don't get included in luxury tax calculations, so if the same dollars simply move over to the player, then a team like the Yankees will start to feel the change.

[Quin]

I was hoping there was going to be something else to balance it.

 

I'd like Hahn to try, but it won't happen now. Yankees will probably get him.

[Marty34]

The DBacks are making Tanaka their #1 target. If the DBacks can afford Tanaka no reason the White Sox could not.

[Chisoxfn]

They arent, really. they may reduce the posting fee, but they are still going to give out large dumb contracts to players that have never played against MLB competition

This rewards the players more which is a good thing for the players. I like this rule better then the old rule. It has no bearing on competitive balance though.

[Chisoxfn]

We could afford Abreu why not here. This creates a more viable option to negotiate vs. a blind system that could totally hose teams. Now, you can freely negotiate similar to the Cuban players. There have been a lot of top cubans who have not signed with the Yankees/Red Sox (see Cepedes/Abreu).

[cabiness42]

I would be willing to give Tanaka a very high salary, but I wouldn't go more than 5 years. I think at least one and probably more teams will be willing to go 6-7 years for him so I don't see the Sox getting him.

[Marty34]

If not Tanaka, who is this team going to be spending money on in the foreseeable future? If he is as advertised he's a franchise-changing signing for the Sox. Of course, they're not going to go from a franchise record $68M contract to a contract of north of $120M. Having said that, the Dodgers probably won't be outbid.

Edited December 14, 2013 by Marty34

[Quin]

We could afford Abreu why not here. This creates a more viable option to negotiate vs. a blind system that could totally hose teams. Now, you can freely negotiate similar to the Cuban players. There have been a lot of top cubans who have not signed with the Yankees/Red Sox (see Cepedes/Abreu).

 

This got me thinking:

 

What about a deal similar to JDA's in structure? Massive bonus, can go to arbitration after 3, etc.

[Rowand44]

Ya I'm not giving a pitcher a 6-7 year deal for 100 plus.

[Marty34]

Ya I'm not giving a pitcher a 6-7 year deal for 100 plus.

 

The Sox don't have anyone they need to pay that money to. Right now is the time to spend that money on one guy because it wouldn't be an albatross.

[Rowand44]

The Sox don't have anyone they need to pay that money to. Right now is the time to spend that money on one guy because it wouldn't be an albatross.

Until 5 years down the road when the Sox are actually competing and need to add a player or two to put them over the top but can't cause Tanaka is broken and they're stuck with his contract.

[Marty34]

Until 5 years down the road when the Sox are actually competing and need to add a player or two to put them over the top but can't cause Tanaka is broken and they're stuck with his contract.

 

If it's going to take 5 years for the Sox to compete WITH Tanaka, who are they going to be paying large sums of money to?

[caulfield12]

But this is pretty much the same argument that would have been used for bringing Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols or Zach Greinke on board.

 

None of them alone would have made the White Sox close to a playoff team in 2013 or 2014 (based on their performances) and certainly would have hamstrung us later on down the line, as the Dunn and Rios deals did.

 

In fact, with all the reports about Tanaka not being overpowering (throws in the low 90's)...I'd be even more leery. He has some dominating pitches IN JAPAN, but how/whether that would translate here if hitters learned to lay off those pitches, well, you don't want to risk $100 million to answer that question negatively.

Edited December 15, 2013 by caulfield12

[Jake]

He's had his peripherals decline in consecutive years in Japan as well.

[Marty34]

But this is pretty much the same argument that would have been used for bringing Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols or Zach Greinke on board.

 

None of them alone would have made the White Sox close to a playoff team in 2013 or 2014 (based on their performances) and certainly would have hamstrung us later on down the line, as the Dunn and Rios deals did.

 

The Sox would be nuts to pass on Greinke if all they had to do was pay his salary. If they believe in this core, who are they going to spend their money on?

 

[caulfield12]

The Sox would be nuts to pass on Greinke if all they had to do was pay his salary. If they believe in this core, who are they going to spend their money on?

 

 

 

They would be better off investing that money into an everyday 3B and catcher and picking up a 4th/5th starter instead.

 

That way, they're not putting all their eggs in one basket. Other than one season with the Royals, Greinke's not nearly worth the money he's getting paid now.