Tanaka to the Yankees.

[Chamillitary Click]

Seven years, 55 million. Player option after the 4th year.

Pretty pricey, but hopefully worth every penny. I think the Yankees should handle the AL East if he lives up to the cash.

[MistaNova]

The revenue the Yankees earn from the Japanese fans, media etc... should cover a good amount of the pricey contract.

The Yankees are still going to finish 3rd and miss the postseason though. Tanaka's unproven, Robertson's most likely going to fail as a closer, they don't have any depth, Kelly Johnson is their starting 2nd baseman, their old geezers won't stay healthy, CC's no longer an ace, they still need to fill the void at 3rd, their rotation is still pretty shitty, the Rays are far better and the Red Sox are even better than the Rays.
The sweet irony is that with the Tanaka signing the Yankees went over the luxury tax limit. If they were going to go over it anyway then they should've resigned Cano.

[Remedy360]

It'll be interesting to see how he turns out. Daisuke has been a huge disappointment, but Iwakuma and Darvish have both looked great so far.

[whoisthis]

I think the Yanks did the smart thing only giving him 7 years. It's pricey, but like the Dodgers with Kershaw, they're really only paying for the dude's prime years. It's better to give up 7 years $155 Mil for a players prime, than let's say less per year, but stretch it out over 10 years. Then you have this grossly overpaid mid-30's shot player on your roster and the Yanks have too many of those.

[MistaNova]

Stuff/profile wise he's not really close to any of the past Japanese pitchers.
More like an unflashy number 3 or 4 starter/innings eater. Like Mike Pelfrey or Paul Maholm.

[whoisthis]

Stuff/profile wise he's not really close to any of the past Japanese pitchers.
More like an unflashy number 3 or 4 starter/innings eater. Like Mike Pelfrey or Paul Maholm.

Everyone's enamored with the 24-0 and low era. They're not really considering the rest.

[MistaNova]

Everyone's enamored with the 24-0 and low era. They're not really considering the rest.

Lol, Brian Kenny's been arguing with random people on twitter about how those 24 wins mean nothing all day (I do agree with him though).
Although considering how the NPB used doctored baseballs that were easier to hit/practically flew out of the stadiums it's a miracle that he didn't lose a game in the regular season last year. But then again it's still the NPB/quad-A level baseball.

[Remedy360]

Stuff/profile wise he's not really close to any of the past Japanese pitchers.
More like an unflashy number 3 or 4 starter/innings eater. Like Mike Pelfrey or Paul Maholm.

Really? I heard that's kinda what he's projected as initially but that there was a lot of upside as well.

[whoisthis]

Lol, Brian Kenny's been arguing with random people on twitter about how those 24 wins mean nothing all day (I do agree with him though).
Although considering how the NPB used doctored baseballs that were easier to hit/practically flew out of the stadiums it's a miracle that he didn't lose a game in the regular season last year. But then again it's still the NPB/quad-A level baseball.

I think it's essentially like taking a guy out of the Minor's who's head and shoulders above the rest. Doesn't mean he'll be better than everyone in the Major's, but the potential is there. I don't think his 24 wins there translates into instant success here, but I do think he'll be a solid option.

[MistaNova]

Really? I heard that's kinda what he's projected as initially but that there was a lot of upside as well.

Is there upside? Absolutely. He might even be a Mark Buehrle type (unflashy but consistent number 2 starter/innings eater).
But can you count on that upside becoming a reality? No, you can't. Especially not when the stakes are as high as they are for the Yankees and Tanaka right now.

I think it's essentially like taking a guy out of the Minor's who's head and shoulders above the rest. Doesn't mean he'll be better than everyone in the Major's, but the potential is there. I don't think his 24 wins there translates into instant success here, but I do think he'll be a solid option.

I think he'll definitely be a solid option as well. Not fantastic or great, but decent and hopefully effective. And with CC and Kuroda in the rotation he'll probably slotted into the number 3 spot in the rotation where he belongs (for now at least) and will leave Nova in the 4th spot where he belongs as well.

[Halu Sination]

So much for Cubs "refusing to be outbid" lol. Teams were definitely willing to match the annual salary, but nobody wanted to match the number of years as international talent who have yet to play a game in the Majors is always a huge risk.

Either way, I'm happy for the Yankees. Lord knows they needed this one, badly. Yanks have had horrible luck with their Japanese prospects in the past, so hopefully this one isn't an absolute bust. It's hard to imagine him sucking given how much hype he's gotten, but we all thought the same thing about Daisuke as well.

[MistaNova]

Well according to some/most reports, the Yankees forgot to do their homework when they went overseas. Like with Kei Igawa a few years back they asked him what kind of pitches he throws after they signed him to that huge deal.

This time they've done their homework properly, plus Kuroda should be pretty huge in helping Tanaka adjust to life in the major leagues. God knows Ichiro won't do shit though.

[Chamillitary Click]

Ellsbury - CF
Jeter - SS
Tex - 1B
McCann - C
Beltran - RF
Soriano - DH
Kelly Johnson/Nunez - 3B
Brian Roberts/Kelly Johnson/Brendan Ryan - 2B
Gardner/Ichiro - LF

Stay healthy & I'll take that lineup over the Rays & it's arguably better than the Red Sox.

CC
Tanaka
Kuroda
Nova
Pineda (Phelps until Pineda is ready to rock). Also a huge wild card.

Could still sign Garza or Santana.

I'll take the Rays & Sox's staffs, but not by as much as it seems.

Bullpen is a mess. Could get ugly. Weakest point.

[MistaNova]

Ellsbury - CF
Jeter - SS
Tex - 1B
McCann - C
Beltran - RF
Soriano - DH
Kelly Johnson/Nunez - 3B
Brian Roberts/Kelly Johnson/Brendan Ryan - 2B
Gardner/Ichiro - LF

Stay healthy & I'll take that lineup over the Rays & it's arguably better than the Red Sox.

Bwahahahahahaha. I want whatever it is you're smoking.

CC
Tanaka
Kuroda
Nova
Pineda (Phelps until Pineda is ready to rock). Also a huge wild card.

Could still sign Garza or Santana.

I'll take the Rays & Sox's staffs, but not by as much as it seems.

Bullpen is a mess. Could get ugly. Weakest point.

LMAO. You should do stand up, you're killing me right now lol.
There's no way that staff comes close to the Rays or Red Sox. Hell, it's just barely better than the one the Orioles have.
The bullpen is a mess but it's the one area the Yankees actually have depth. Most of the players who make that depth are terrible but it's depth nonetheless.

[Chamillitary Click]

Ellsbury > Victorino
Jeter = Bogaerts...Jeter's older, Bogaerts has potential but unproven.
Tex >/= Napoli
McCann >> AJ
Beltran < Nava
Soriano < Ortiz
2nd Base << Pedroia
Third Base < Middlebrooks
Gardner/Ichiro >/= Bradley...For now.

I gave Nava & Ortiz, but if you told me Beltran beasted in the smaller park left handed & came pretty close to Nava outside of average, pretty reasonable & Ortiz was about to get pushed into retirement before busting out last year; no saying him & Soriano can't come close.

Again I said arguably...not definitely.

-------

Pitching

Lester & Bucholz are the only guarantees (if there is such a thing) in that rotation. Lackey, Peavy, Dempster are aging. I can give the same bullshit you just automatically assume for the Yankees & say "they're geezers". Going into last season they weren't even supposed to be good. Now they had a good year & you're locking those three in? This almost exact Redsox team was projected to finish last in the AL going into the season lmao. You already mentioned that "CC isn't an ace anymore" based off of one shady season; so you're biased. Tanaka is supposedly Darvish-like...who would be the ace of the Red Sox staff & Kuroda just had a great season.

The Rays are probably going to move David Price...so there goes the best pitcher in the rotation. Moore & Cobb are beast, no lie. Archer could have a great year. Helickson posted a 5+ ERA last season.

BUT AGAIN....I said I'd take both staffs over the Yankees...but as you can see, not by thaaaat much.