Despite a weekend report out of Japan that the Angels were one of three finalists for Masahiro Tanaka, General Manager Jerry Dipoto said Monday night that the Angels did not even meet with Tanaka during his visit to the United States last week.
The Angels still have a need for Tanaka and an interest, but they are unlikely to win a pure bidding war for the pitcher. The Angels’ best hope is if Tanaka chooses the Angels for non-monetary reasons, such as the widely held belief that he prefers to pitch on the West Coast.
Tanaka, the 25-year-old right-hander who went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA for the Rakuten Golden Eagles, must choose a major league team by Jan. 24, when his 30-day posting window closes.
The Dodgers, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox are all believed to be interested in Tanaka, whose contract could exceed $20 million a year over at least six years. The team that signs him will also have to pay a $20 million posting fee to Rakuten.
If the Angels aren’t able to land Tanaka, they remain interested in Matt Garza. Garza is one of a handful of established major league pitchers who remain on the market far longer than in a typical offseason. Apparently there is a wide gulf between their asking prices and how major league clubs value them.
The Minnesota Twins’ four-year, $49-million deal with Ricky Nolasco in November likely inflated the market for the other starters beyond what clubs were willing to pay.
It is likely that clubs, including the Angels, are waiting for the prices to drop as spring training approaches.
