http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/kaplan-c ... bid-tanaka

From Dave Kaplan:
I just spoke w/an MLB source who believes Cubs will not be outbid on Tanaka. He also said convincing Tanaka to come to Chgo will be hard.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Meaning Tanaka would love to come to Chicago but the Cubs will be outbid.

Kaplan and Leary have broken the same number of stories.

If we find out that the Cubs put up big numbers for Tanaka when the bidding begins, I will not fault them if they are outbid. But I think he's a guy who fits the profile of the kind of player they need most. He's a young starting pitcher who has had great success and is not yet even in his prime years, but should be about to begin them. 24-0 with a 1.24 ERA? I know the Japanese league is inferior to MLB, but those are amazing numbers. That said, I predict he winds up with the Yankees.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I think there is zero chance the Cubs make a serious bid for him.

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That's just Theo driving up the price from other clubs.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Looks like Darwin Barney may have some internal competition for second base this spring.....

The left handed hitting Luis Valbuena has been playing almost exclusively at second base this winter for Cardenales de Lara in Venezuelan League. He has a the current line of .314/.445/.350 in 122 AB. He has 7 2B, 4 HRS 16 RBI and 25 BB with 23K.

If he doesn't win the position outright he may at least platoon with Barney as it looks like Mike Olt will get the shot at third.

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There are a lot of guys on this board awaiting internal completion.

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Elections have consequences.

Good news. Need to see what you got in Olt. Start the year with him at 3rd and see what he can do.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Alcantara is the guy they see as the longterm solution at 2B. Valbuena would be a temporary move. Olt needs to prove himself quickly, if they decide to keep Bryant at 3B. Bryant is likely to be up by june/july. If Barney sticks with the team, it's likely to be as a utility guy.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Yeah, It's time for the 21 century version of Augie Ojeda to disappear.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2013/10/1 ... ott-baker/


Any news on Scott Baker? I think he could help.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Here you go, Jimmy. From MLB Trade Rumors:

"Right-handed starter Scott Baker has several minor league offers in hand but is holding out for a guaranteed MLB deal, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. The Twins have not been interested in a reunion thus far, Wolfson adds."

From the Trib:Left-hander reliever James Russell also confirmed he agreed to a one-year, $1.775 million contract. The New York Post reported earlier that third baseman Luis Valbuena agreed to a one-year, $1.71 million contract.


How the hell does the NY Post scoop Chicago press on the huge Valbuena signing?

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Speaking of Valbuena,he needs a new agent. Sheirholtz is not 3.3 million dollars better than Luis.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

So the Cubs are now the favorite to sign Tanaka. I read he could get as much as 7 years at $25M per. Holy jumping up and down that's a shit ton of money.

I doubt the Cubs actually get him. This will be classic Artie Moreno who will come to the table with the biggest bag of cash even though they are supposedly out of the talks right now.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Rumor is Dbacks went 120.


TomLoxas ‏@TomLoxas 11m
Heard #Cubs offer for Tanaka in 160 mil neighborhood plus posting fee.

Very possible. Apparently he is big on a Japanese community. Might just prefer another situation, even if the Cubs offer the most.

"Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times hears from multiple sources that the Cubs are a "long shot" to land Masahiro Tanaka (Twitter link). The Cubs were one of many clubs to have made a formal offer to the Japanese star, according to a Nikkan Sports report."

That didn't take long to go from favorite to long shot. I hope they just drive up the bids and get out of it. That is a lot of money for a guy who has never pitched in MLB. The japanese player sideshow is also annoying. Tons of press, translators... It creates an environment that is very conducive to resentment amongst the rest of the players. It probably also hurts negotiating with your own young players when they play hardball with them but fawn over this guy and open up all the vaults.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Not for it at all. This would make the Edwin Jackson deal look like the steal of the century.

I'm really surprised only 5 teams made an offer to Tanaka. I wonder what scared off the other 25 teams the pitcher or the years/dollar amount.

Remember the days when Samardzija so loved and appreciated being a Cub that he would sign a friendly contract to be here his entire career?

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

So what's next post Tanaka?

Maholm???



Actually not a bad move if they can get him cheap.

Or will Ricketts pocket the cash and keep the payroll at around 78M??

I believe if they signed Jiminez they'd lose their 2nd round draft pick?? And from what I read, they don't want Garza back (no compensation).

What about Shark? Do they unload him now or risk him having a bad first half??

I think it's this. Maybe a Maholm/Jason Hammel signing. But I think they'll let Arrieta, Villanueva, Grimm, and Hendricks fight it out for the last two spots.

Why not? Be worse than last year, get another high draft pick, and call up the kids in 2015.

Agreed. Funnel the money into player development. Follow the Rays/Cardinals model.

Old man River, do you really think there is a big difference between drafting 2nd and drafting 17th?

In baseball it seems like first rounders are first rounders.

I wonder what this means for Samardzija. Do they sign him to an extension or trade him for a potential top of the rotation starter. I have a feeling they are going to trade him.

I keep waiting to hear that he has been traded for a rehabbing Dylan Bundy.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!