Masahiro Tanaka Rumors: Dodgers Went Over $100 Million With Offer
Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka made his decision and chose the New York Yankees, taking a seven-year deal worth $155 million.
Many believed the Los Angeles Dodgers and Yankees were the frontrunners for the right-hander’s services, but he ultimately chose the Yankees and the bigger deal. It seems as if the Dodgers were in the running and offered Tanaka a significant contract.
According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, the Dodgers’ offer to the 25-year-old was up there in terms of money:
Confirmed #Dodgers did go over $100m in bid for Tanaka, for a team that would have slotted him behind Kershaw at #1 and Greinke at #2.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) January 22, 2014
The Dodgers just gave left-hander Clayton Kershaw a seven-year, $215 million extension a year after giving Zack Greinke a six-year, $147 million deal. A deal with Tanaka would have given them three starting pitchers with contracts over $100 million.
Also, Shaikin reported the two teams that outbid the Dodgers and a bit of Tanaka’s thought process:
I’m told Tanaka would have left “a decent amount” of money on the table if he wanted to pitch for #Dodgers, who were outbid by Cubs, Yanks.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) January 22, 2014
Over the past month, there have been several reports regarding what the 25-year-old wanted and speculation as to where he was headed, but it seems as if the Dodgers weren’t willing to break the bank for a number three starter. Tanaka’s deal with the Yankees becomes the fifth-largest deal for a pitcher and is greater than the deal that Yu Darvish received in 2012. Tanaka was posted by his team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles, after a season in which he went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA in 212 innings and led the Golden Eagles to a championship. On top of the $155 million, the Yankees must also pay a $20 million posting fee to the right-hander’s former team.
With the Tanaka bidding over, the Dodgers will now turn their attention to acquiring one more veteran starting pitcher to compete for a spot.
UPDATE: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe had more on the subject:
Dodgers cubs white sox Astros and dbacks in the hunt in the end with tanaka but Yankees bid was an estimated $25-$35 million more than rest
— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) January 22, 2014
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ICYMI: The Dodgers signed Clayton Kershaw to a record-breaking extension
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNMR29Ama9M
