With a 2pm MT deadline this Friday, my understanding is, the Arizona Diamondbacks are still right in the middle of the Masahiro Tanaka sweepstakes.
At least five teams, including the Diamondbacks, have made Tanaka an offer in excess of $100 million dollars.
ESPN baseball reporter Jayson Stark and Fox Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal both reported on Tuesday that Tanaka went through a physical exam on January 9th and that all the teams that are pursuing the Japanese right-hander have the results.
Tanaka went 24-0 last season.
Is he the next Yu Darish? Is he a flash in the pan(Hideo Nomo)? I’ve heard both sides on that question.
If the Diamondbacks were able to land Tanaka, I would think that he’d be on the mound to open the season on the 21st of March in Australia against the Dodgers and take the hill for the home opener on the 31st against the Giants.
If the Diamondbacks don’t get him, is it wise to spend big money on one of the remaining free agent pitchers like Matt Garza, Ubaldo Jimmenez, or Bronson Arroyo among others?
Just the fact that the Diamondbacks are still in the race has given the team some much needed buzz over the last couple of weeks.
Brad Cesmat
