jaysfan2014

Good deal for the Rays for Forsythe, Boxberger and prospects. There's no guarantee Alex Torres repeats his 2013 numbers, considering his control issues (5.2 BB/9IP in the minors for his career), and considering the volatility of relievers, the Rays cashed in at the right time. Jeese Hahn is still up in the air.. good K numbers (8.5 K/9IP in A+) ball last year, but he's at least a year away. As for the Rays, Forsythe will take the spot that was previously reserved for Tim Beckham before his near season-ending injury, giving Joe Maddon another utility player off the bench. As for the other pieces: Boxberger: Great K numbers, but lousy control (5.3 BB/9IP in San Diego last year despite a 2.86 ERA). Hopefully the Rays coaching staff can help him reach his potential to be a top set-up man or closer. Andriese: Mid-level prospect, had a good year in AA San Antonio last year, but struggled in AAA. He's expected to start in Durham, but will likely not see the Rays in 2014 barring major injuries. Matt Lollis: Great arm, but serious command and control issues (1.69 WHIP thru 3 levels last year). Basically a throw-in. Max Tissenbaum: A Canadian 2B from Toronto, ON in A ball with decent OBP numbers and decent doubles power (28 in A ball last year). Still just 21, and a ways off. Forsythe and Boxberger will be in the majors with Tampa, Andriese in Durham, Lollis is a difficult call, and Tissenbaum will be in A+ ball.

Too bad he's going to have a horrid infield defense in NY with an immobile Jeter and lousy 2B/3B depth.

Well, there goes all the talk of getting under $189M.. hope they enjoying paying a 50% luxury tax. Better hope Tanaka pans out..

Well, time to sign Santana, Jimenez, Garza, etc.. c'mon AA!

Sorry for that assumption. However, Cahill has struggled with mediocrity despite a decent ERA, Anderson has been injured, pitched poorly and now is hoping for a revival in Colorado, and the less said about Ricky Romero the better.

Time for the annual article about the Verducci effect: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20140121/year-after-effect-micahel-wacha-gerrit-cole-masahiro-tanaka/?eref=sihp Remember, this can't be taken with a grain of salt. However, we did see Matt Harvey blow out his elbow. Also mentioned in there was a part about Trevor Cahill, Ricky Romero and Brett Anderson, who all have declined or gotten hurt because of heavy usage in their rookie seasons.

It's between the Yanks, Dodgers, D-Backs(unlikely, as they're too small), Cubs, White Sox, Astros (they voiced interest) and the "mystery team", as we usually see with Boras clients..

One problem.. there's draft pick compensation involved with Santana and Jimenez, so you can count the Yanks and D-Backs out on them. Plus, the Yanks don't seem interested in anyone other than Tanaka.

Most likely Jimenez or Santana with the Jays, and Garza with the Angels. Arroyo is still a question mark.. Orioles, Yankees and others are in on him, but it's questionable how his talent would translate in the AL having to face 9 batters with a DH instead of 8 hitters and a pitcher. Dodgers are also rumored on Arroyo if Tanaka doesn't sign with them.

Exactly. We haven't seen Tanaka pitch in the MLB--he could be like Yu Darvish, but he could also end up like Hideki Irabu, Kei Igawa or Daisuke Matsuzaka. This could be either be a great signing--or a tremendous bust that costs a certain GM their job. Remember, Japanese pitchers pitch with a smaller ball than the MLB, which increases their risk. Our Jays should focus more on Santana, Garza, Jimenez, etc. They're going to get desperate to sign once this saga ends.

They don't have $39M in cap space.. it's more like $3-4M at most after arb raises/benefits/call-ups. And besides, the Cubs are a strong bet to get him.

And San Diego is considered an extreme pitchers park. Josh Johnson just isn't a fit for hitters parks like all of the AL East, where 4 of the 5 parks (I don't consider the Trop a hitters park) are home run havens.

Getz is more likely Buffalo depth, as he has no shot of making the team, as the spot is Goins to lose. We also have Izturis as well, remember. Getz is also limited to being a player who can only play one position (2B). Getz hasn't been able to stick in either Chicago or KC, so I don't expect him to stick in Toronto, either.

No way JJ would've been worth 14M, especially considering his injuries.

A lot of other teams were interested in Josh Johnson. This could've happened on other clubs as well. At least Dickey and Buehrle have done something.. And BTW, Jimenez, Garza and Santana, among others, are still out there because Tanaka still hasn't signed yet, and the prices are way too high for the talent these pitchers have, which is not close to Tanaka.

He's likely Dodgers bound based on the sound of Tanaka wanting to go to a World Series.

According to Orange County Register: Bill Plunkett ‏@billplunkettocr Masahiro Tanaka has returned to Japan after meeting with 8-9 teams in SoCal. Japanese reports Yankees, Cubs, DBacks specifically had meeting We'll have to wait and see. My guess those teams are: Dodgers, Angels, DBacks, Yankees, Blue Jays, White Sox and Cubs, Red Sox, Mariners

No they can't. The $151M is only for the 13 players they owe money to. Once you add $17M-$20M for arb raises(estimated), $11M for insurance, and $5M budgeted for call ups, plus the $3M they will owe A-Rod for his bonus and 21 days after his suspension, the Yankees are at about $187-$190M. Signing someone like Tanaka will put them over the tax. And besides, the Yankees need a 3B and a bullpen arm still. Remember, they changed the system so that teams like the Yankees couldn't give lowball deals to Japanese players after paying the posting fee.

I agree with you regarding Wojo. He's behind many of Houston's top pitching prospects such as Mark Appel and Mike Foltynewicz, and probably won't make their rotation anytime soon. Wojo projects by MLB.com to be an average starter like Happ, which is something Houston does not need right now, especially when they're trying to build a contender.

Are you referring to Wojo or Happ as the potential middle reliever? Just wondering.

We all do. He'd have a better chance of being in our rotation than Houston's right now.

Well, the Rangers will need to add something-- their AAA depth is weak after Nick Tepesch with AAAA vets such as Nate Adcock, Justin Germano and Ryan Freierabend, as many of their young pitchers are expected to be in AA. And taking Robbie Ross or Tanner Scheppers out of the bullpen and into the rotation could be a problem for their strong bullpen, and apparently is being considered.

Considering he was the workhorse of the staff last year (led with 213.0 IP), this could be troubling for the Rangers. And it also continues a trend of injury problems for Rangers pitchers, as they used 11 starters last year due to various injuries. However, they will be getting Matt Harrison back.

John Shea @JohnSheaHey I hear Masahiro Tanaka's three preferred spots going in are LA, NY and Boston, so five teams. #dodgers #angels #yankees #mets #redsox So basically it's between the Dodgers, Angels, Yankees and maybe Mets, as the Red Sox don't have room on the roster. However, where he goes depends on how much money he gets and from whom.

When Tanaka signs and other pitchers start dropping their ridiculous prices.