Tanaka to be posted!

[Hornsby]

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Ben Badler
@BenBadler
The Mariners look like the favorites for Masahiro Tanaka. But competition is fierce. Ranking the top 10 candidates: http://bit.ly/1dX6GnI

[Bodhizefa]

Considering how much he's going to cost (an awful lot) vs. what the current crop of free agents can probably get (maybe half of what Tanaka will get), I might just opt for Jimenez, Garza, or even Ervin Santana at this point. At some point, I start to worry about the bust potential for Tanaka given that his translation to the big leagues is no certain thing, and I move on to the free agents.

[Grinch]

in my Al only league he is sitting on my roster already!!!!!

Excellent...that means he'll land in the NL!

[Moonlight J]

Once he settles with a team, I expect the dominoes of Jimenez, Garza, Santana, and Price deal to happen very quickly.

[Bob Kohm]

Considering how much he's going to cost (an awful lot) vs. what the current crop of free agents can probably get (maybe half of what Tanaka will get), I might just opt for Jimenez, Garza, or even Ervin Santana at this point. At some point, I start to worry about the bust potential for Tanaka given that his translation to the big leagues is no certain thing, and I move on to the free agents.

Whoa whoa WHOA! As a Mariners fan you're not allowed to hedge your bet on his not being gret if you don;t get him-- our site's official Eternal Pessimist says that's reserved for us Yankee and Dodger fans, only!

[joncarlos]

Considering how much he's going to cost (an awful lot) vs. what the current crop of free agents can probably get (maybe half of what Tanaka will get), I might just opt for Jimenez, Garza, or even Ervin Santana at this point. At some point, I start to worry about the bust potential for Tanaka given that his translation to the big leagues is no certain thing, and I move on to the free agents.

Garza's injury red flags are worse than Tanaka's. Ubaldo is way too unpredictable. Ervin needs a big park. He might make some sense for the Ms but even at twice the price I think I'd prefer Tanaka to the other two.

[Don Quixote]

Whoa whoa WHOA! As a Mariners fan you're not allowed to hedge your bet on his not being gret if you don;t get him-- our site's official Eternal Pessimist says that's reserved for us Yankee and Dodger fans, only!

So now you're a Dodgers fan?

Actually, if the Yankees don't put in a huge, huge bid, I'll be very surprised. This is right up their alley--Big bucks. Big splash. The big fish. And probably worth it, too.

[Controller Jacobs]

Garza's injury red flags are worse than Tanaka's. Ubaldo is way too unpredictable. Ervin needs a big park. He might make some sense for the Ms but even at twice the price I think I'd prefer Tanaka to the other two.

Plus there's the issue of qualifying offers. Jiminez & Santana each had one (looks like Garza did not, wasn't eligible)

[Hornsby]

Considering how much he's going to cost (an awful lot) vs. what the current crop of free agents can probably get (maybe half of what Tanaka will get), I might just opt for Jimenez, Garza, or even Ervin Santana at this point. At some point, I start to worry about the bust potential for Tanaka given that his translation to the big leagues is no certain thing, and I move on to the free agents.

Good God man, all of those guys are bigger question marks than Tanaka...Garza has injury concerns, Ubaldo had a nice 2nd half, preceded by about 3 craptacular years, and Ervin is a yoyo. Frankly, I wouldn't touch any of them over Tanaka despite the price tag. I think that Japanese pitchers have proven themselves over the past decade to be pretty solid in coming to the states...from the old relievers to the young starters, not too many busts in there. If he's Dan Haren in his prime, as is Bowden's comp...I'd be thrilled to have him on a team.

[joncarlos]

Plus there's the issue of qualifying offers. Jiminez & Santana each had one (looks like Garza did not, wasn't eligible)

Garza was traded mid-season right? If so he isn't eligible to get one.

[johnnya24]

Man ... he's pitched a lot of innings for a 24 year old.

[Moonlight J]

Garza was traded mid-season right? If so he isn't eligible to get one.

correct

[Don Quixote]

Good God man, all of those guys are bigger question marks than Tanaka...Garza has injury concerns, Ubaldo had a nice 2nd half, preceded by about 3 craptacular years, and Ervin is a yoyo. Frankly, I wouldn't touch any of them over Tanaka despite the price tag. I think that Japanese pitchers have proven themselves over the past decade to be pretty solid in coming to the states...from the old relievers to the young starters, not too many busts in there. If he's Dan Haren in his prime, as is Bowden's comp...I'd be thrilled to have him on a team.

We don't hear much about the Japanese pitchers who come over on "smaller" deals and aren't particularly effective, as they tend to be low profile guys (other than that one who had done a gay porno). Part of that may be the self-effacement built into Japanese culture. They come here for a year, two, or three, don't crack the major league staff, and go back to their previous successful time in the Japanese leagues.

The only spectacular bust I can think of is never-to-be-forgotten Yankees great Kei Igawa. Even the "fat p***y toad" had his moments; the half-season he closed for the Rangers certainly helped my bankroll that year.

[Bodhizefa]

I know I'm being impatient and all, but it's kindof a bitch that Tanaka's team waited so long to post him. Now we all have to suffer this drought after such a flurry of activity going into the Winter Meetings!

[Kevin Seitzer]

We don't hear much about the Japanese pitchers who come over on "smaller" deals and aren't particularly effective, as they tend to be low profile guys (other than that one who had done a gay porno). Part of that may be the self-effacement built into Japanese culture. They come here for a year, two, or three, don't crack the major league staff, and go back to their previous successful time in the Japanese leagues.

The only spectacular bust I can think of is never-to-be-forgotten Yankees great Kei Igawa. Even the "fat p***y toad" had his moments; the half-season he closed for the Rangers certainly helped my bankroll that year.

I think you're confusing Hideki Irabu and Kei Igawa. Igawa was a complete bust. Irabu had a pretty rough time of it, too, but actually put up a decent season or two with the Yankees before finishing up with the Expos and Rangers.