Seattle Mariners Rumors: Tanaka is a Mystery
By Todd Pheifer
Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
The Seattle Mariners are the frontrunners to sign Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Or, the Mariners are actually not interested.
The Mariners are flush with cash and have the ability to offer a huge deal. Or, they spent all of their money on Robinson Cano and the payroll limit cannot be raised.
Does any of this sound familar? Over the last couple of weeks we have heard all angles of this story. The M’s are in. The New York Yankees are the clear favorites. Maybe the Chicago Cubs will make a serious pitch. Or the Los Angeles Dodgers. Or the Los Angeles Angels.
Then there is the speculation about Tanaka’s mindset. Maybe he will like the grandeur of the Yankees. Perhaps he will want to pitch with Hisashi Iwakuma. It could be that the Mariners are appealing because Ichiro was there. Or, maybe Tanaka does not want to play in Ichiro’s shadow. OR, maybe Tanaka wants to play with Ichiro in New York.
Do you know what we really know? Nothin’.
Let’s face it, folks. This is fascinating stuff but Jack Zduriencik is not going to offer a peep until this guy is signed. We will also not be hearing from Tanaka or his agent because there is some serious negotiating to be done. You do not tip your hand when you are trying to land a lucrative, multi-year deal.
The deadline for signing Tanaka is January 24, so we won’t have long to wait. After that, players like Matt Garza, Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez may come off the market pretty quickly.
Strap yourselves in, Mariners fans. This offseason ride may have a few more bumps.