Reds Miss Out On Masahiro Tanaka

Dec 11, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Rakuten Golden Eagles president Yozo Tachibana (right) walks through the lobby during the MLB Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Tachibana has not decided whether or not to allow Masahiro Tanaka (not pictured) to sign with a MLB team now that Nippon Professional Baseball and the MLB have agreed on a $20 Million maximum posting bid. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Masahiro Tanaka will not be a Cincinnati Red so everyone put away your rising sun flags the young Japanese ace will not be suiting up at GABP. Honestly the Reds were never in the running for Tanaka, you’d like to think the Reds were but realistically they don’t have $155M to throw at an unproven rookie. But hey they still just missed out on him right?

News came this morning that star Japanese pitcher Masahior Tanaka has decided to sign with the New York Yankees for 7 years and $155M. This comes as no surprise to anyone as the Yankees pushed incredibly hard for Tanaka as their depth at the top of the rotation is bleak.

Tanaka comes into the majors with a lot of expectation, his contract is nearly the same as CC Sabathia who signed a seven year $161M deal. It is also around the same deal Zach Greinke got after his Cy Young season. Tossing this much money at an unproven pitcher is concerning and a huge risk. Sometimes it works out like Yu Darvish with the Texas Rangers but other times it turns out to be a bust like Daisuke Matsuaka with the Red Sox.

Time will tell with Tanaka but if he pitches like he did in Japan the Yankees will be players come this fall.