Could just be a case of finding out if his price is really that high. You also never know how far a good impression can go. Maybe we can have Shingo and Iguchi stop by.

 

Maybe we want to enter a bidding war, too. I'd be surprised, though.

Could just be a case of finding out if his price is really that high. You also never know how far a good impression can go. Maybe we can have Shingo and Iguchi stop by.

 

Maybe we want to enter a bidding war, too. I'd be surprised, though.

 

I wouldnt be surprised at all

Lol.

Needless to say...

 

Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 14m

While it has been reported White Sox are meeting with Tanaka this week, they wouldn't be considered major players there at this point

Expand

Needless to say...

 

Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 14m

While it has been reported White Sox are meeting with Tanaka this week, they wouldn't be considered major players there at this point

Expand

I mean, we can't just be meeting with him for the hell of it. Let's at least give the Yankees a challenge.

I like it.

 

JR using the savings from Deng.

 

/sarcasm

Obviously the Sox have interest. Might as well see if it is mutual. Who knows, maybe he is a big Shingo and Iguchi fan and had a White Sox cap as a teenager. It really would be kicking Theo in the balls signing him.

Edited January 8, 201412 yr by Dick Allen

The Cubs not signing him would be hilarious....basically the only thing those fans had going for them these last few months

Dam near every team is going to meet with Tanaka not really news.

Sox will meet with Tanaka just to personally tell him his NPB stats aren't impressive because the league over there sucks balls. My sources tell me there's "zero chance" they let Tanaka or his agent use their Keurig & if anyone wants coffee they're going to have to go downstairs to the break room and get it like everyone else.

Sox will meet with Tanaka just to personally tell him his NPB stats aren't impressive because the league over there sucks balls. My sources tell me there's "zero chance" they let Tanaka or his agent use their Keurig & if anyone wants coffee they're going to have to go downstairs to the break room and get it like everyone else.

 

This was totally constructive and obviously what the Sox plan to do.

I'd guess this is the Sox kicking the tires since Tanaka will be in town to meet the cubs anyway. I can't see the Sox offering up what Tanaka is expected to get.

 

As for the cubs, wishful thinking. The whole " we won't be outbid" is bs by the cubs front office because they've done nothing this off season and cub fans are not happy about it.

ONe of the more interesting things to get out tonight is that the signing fee isn't all paid up front. It would be $13m this year, and $7 the next.

Curious as to what the board thinks. If Tanaka can be had for say 18m per year or less for 5/6 years would you do it? And what do you think the chances would be in Tanaka having genuine interest in signing with the Sox?

 

After a bit of thinking the Sox could come out of nowhere on Tanaka and so can Tanaka's interest in the Sox. Tanaka is going to get good offers from plenty of teams. I think it might come down to two things from Tanaka's perspective. 1- is the team a contender or at least close? 2- how good are the other teams in the division?

 

If the Sox thought Tanaka's asking price was within budget the chances might be better than speculated. Yes the Yanks will offer plenty but they are in a tougher division than the sox which could raise Tanaka's interest level in the Sox. I admit I'm just guessing here but am curious what others think.

Curious as to what the board thinks. If Tanaka can be had for say 18m per year or less for 5/6 years would you do it? And what do you think the chances would be in Tanaka having genuine interest in signing with the Sox?

 

After a bit of thinking the Sox could come out of nowhere on Tanaka and so can Tanaka's interest in the Sox. Tanaka is going to get good offers from plenty of teams. I think it might come down to two things from Tanaka's perspective. 1- is the team a contender or at least close? 2- how good are the other teams in the division?

 

If the Sox thought Tanaka's asking price was within budget the chances might be better than speculated. Yes the Yanks will offer plenty but they are in a tougher division than the sox which could raise Tanaka's interest level in the Sox. I admit I'm just guessing here but am curious what others think.

My suspicion is that Tanaka will go to the highest bidder, or at least a bidder within 1 or 2 million dollars of the highest who also has a good chance of winning

I'd offer a contract like this:

 

2014: 17M

2015: 18M

2016: 19M

2017: 20M; after the season the player has ability to opt out of remainder of contract; team also has $6M buyout to get out from remainder of deal

2018: 20M - guaranteed year if no opt-out by either side

2019: 20M - another mutual option with a $5M team buyout

2020: 20M - guaranteed year if no opt-out by either side

 

A deal like that would give Tanaka $80M guaranteed over 4 years, or $74M for 4 years plus a shot at hitting FA before 30. Further there are options for the Sox to get out of the deal should things go bad later, but should they stick in the deal the Sox guarantee Tanaka more money.

 

Something that would provide flexibility for both sides I would do. However I think he's getting everything guaranteed.

 

*Edit: deferring some of the early money in 2014 & 2015 to a later point in the deal could be nice too as it could offset the posting fee some.

Edited January 8, 201412 yr by The Ultimate Champion

BTW the whole point of the above deal I proposed is that the Sox would be able to trade him if they felt he was an opt-out candidate. If not, and he turned into Adam Dunn 2.0, at least they'd be able to get out of the deal in 4 years. And anywhere in between s*** and excellence he's probably a 2-4 starter, meaning you're not overpaying him all that much if at all during the 4 years you definitely have him.

 

I wouldn't guarantee seven years though, that's just nuts, but I think that's what happens. IMO the Dodgers will get him, because why not? If they do I wonder if Kenny ahem I mean Rick gets Kemp in here somehow.

I'd offer a contract like this:

 

2014: 17M

2015: 18M

2016: 19M

2017: 20M; after the season the player has ability to opt out of remainder of contract; team also has $6M buyout to get out from remainder of deal

2018: 20M - guaranteed year if no opt-out by either side

2019: 20M - another mutual option with a $5M team buyout

2020: 20M - guaranteed year if no opt-out by either side

 

A deal like that would give Tanaka $80M guaranteed over 4 years, or $74M for 4 years plus a shot at hitting FA before 30. Further there are options for the Sox to get out of the deal should things go bad later, but should they stick in the deal the Sox guarantee Tanaka more money.

 

Something that would provide flexibility for both sides I would do. However I think he's getting everything guaranteed.

 

*Edit: deferring some of the early money in 2014 & 2015 to a later point in the deal could be nice too as it could offset the posting fee some.

I agree that he will likely get guaranteed money but your ideas do give some incite into some possible offers Tanaka may get rather than the say, 18M per 5/6 year deal.

Real shocker here/sarcasm. 28 other teams will probably meet with him too.

 

I honestly doubt he will even meet with 10 teams. I think he wants to play in a major market, so why sign with a team like Cleveland?

 

Needless to say...

 

Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 14m

While it has been reported White Sox are meeting with Tanaka this week, they wouldn't be considered major players there at this point

Expand

 

This does not surprise me.

 

Sox will meet with Tanaka just to personally tell him his NPB stats aren't impressive because the league over there sucks balls. My sources tell me there's "zero chance" they let Tanaka or his agent use their Keurig & if anyone wants coffee they're going to have to go downstairs to the break room and get it like everyone else.

 

Please cite Tanaka's ground ball percentage in Japan. If you have nothing, than I will mention that his K/9 over the last 3 years has been 8.7, his BB/9 has been 1.15, and a HR/9 of 0.26. If you can provide that ground ball percentage and something other than your tinfoil hat theory of "THE NPB SUCKS I SAID SO," I will be much more willing to subscribe to your newsletter. In the meantime, get off this schtick. No one's buying it except you.

Solid move by both sides. I still don't see the Sox coming close to signing him, but with the new posting rules Japanese players may hit the radar more for the Sox so likely his people will represent some in the future. For Tanaka and his people it adds another big market name to the "rumors" which can't hurt.

Not sure who his agent is, but I'm guessing it's someone who is going to be working with a lot of Japanese clients in the future. Right now, the Sox are selling to him as much as they are Tanaka.

The Sox should do something like 6y/$120M, The first 3y are at $25M per with an option for him to play out the remainder of his deal at $15M per or go to arbitration after year 3.

Please cite Tanaka's ground ball percentage in Japan. If you have nothing, than I will mention that his K/9 over the last 3 years has been 8.7, his BB/9 has been 1.15, and a HR/9 of 0.26. If you can provide that ground ball percentage and something other than your tinfoil hat theory of "THE NPB SUCKS I SAID SO," I will be much more willing to subscribe to your newsletter. In the meantime, get off this schtick. No one's buying it except you.

 

If he shouts it out enough, I expect he believes people will get on his bandwagon.

I'd offer a contract like this:

 

2014: 17M

2015: 18M

2016: 19M

2017: 20M; after the season the player has ability to opt out of remainder of contract; team also has $6M buyout to get out from remainder of deal

2018: 20M - guaranteed year if no opt-out by either side

2019: 20M - another mutual option with a $5M team buyout

2020: 20M - guaranteed year if no opt-out by either side

 

A deal like that would give Tanaka $80M guaranteed over 4 years, or $74M for 4 years plus a shot at hitting FA before 30. Further there are options for the Sox to get out of the deal should things go bad later, but should they stick in the deal the Sox guarantee Tanaka more money.

 

Something that would provide flexibility for both sides I would do. However I think he's getting everything guaranteed.

 

*Edit: deferring some of the early money in 2014 & 2015 to a later point in the deal could be nice too as it could offset the posting fee some.

 

TUC why would you want an inferior NPB scrub like Tanaka? Go get a real American pitcher like Dylan Axelrod.

Edited January 8, 201412 yr by pettie4sox

ONe of the more interesting things to get out tonight is that the signing fee isn't all paid up front. It would be $13m this year, and $7 the next.

Maybe that moves us to .0001% chance.