The Masahiro Tanaka sweepstakes officially began last week and those involved don’t expect him to find a landing spot quickly.
Tanaka became the most coveted free-agent pitcher on the market when he was posted by his Japanese team on Christmas Day. Teams have until Jan. 24 to negotiate with the right-hander and while the Yankees are strongly targeting him, the recruiting process has hardly begun, according to sources.
Teams are still waiting to find out whether the 25-year-old will visit them or if he will begin the negotiations in Japan.
With the new posting system, which dictates only the team that signs Tanaka pay his Rakuten team $20 million on top of whatever contract he agrees to, more teams than ever could be in play.
On Sunday, a Major League Baseball spokesman confirmed MLB had sent a letter to Rakuten to make sure no side deals are made in which Tanaka gives money to his former team, since the Japanese franchise is displeased with the new arrangement that caps the posting fee.
Since he will command a nine-figure deal, the Yankees’ stiffest competition could come from the Dodgers. The Cubs also are interested.
The Yankees wasted no time in reaching out to Tanaka’s agent, Casey Close, last week, but it’s too early to tell where they stand.
After making several major free agent signings this offseason to bolster the offense and attempt to make up for the loss of Robinson Cano to the Mariners, the Yankees have turned their attention to Tanaka, who went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA for Rakuten last season.
They continue to look for help at third base and in the bullpen, but the most significant acquisition they figure to be able to make in the New Year figures to be Tanaka, who would join CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda and Ivan Nova in the starting rotation.
Tanaka’s decision isn’t the only one the Yankees are hoping works out in their favor, as arbitrator Fredric Horowitz is expected to make his ruling on Alex Rodriguez’s appeal of his 211-game suspension next month.
The Yankees could save as much as $31 million in salary and bonuses due Rodriguez depending on the outcome, although they have already shown a willingness to blow by the luxury-tax threshold of $189 million next season if it means getting Tanaka.