TANAKA DECISION EXPECTED SOON

The latest in Tanakaland is that Masahiro Tanaka will decide either Tuesday or Wednesday which team he chooses. Here's David Kaplan of CNS Chicago.

He also told me decision should come Tuesday/Wednesday so addtl. medicals happen. Deal must be finalized by 5 pm Friday. No exceptions.
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) January 19, 2014

So now we wait and we'll hear all sorts of rumors until then.  There was chatter over the weekend that the Cubs just made Tanaka a formal offer and not something that could blow him out of the water, read HERE, and that apparently goes for the Yankees, Diamondbacks, the Dodgers and the White Sox too. No true confirmation on that, just rumors galore.  I don't necessarily believe that either, but I guess we wait and see.  The other part of this puzzle is Tanaka's wife and her need to be part of a Japanese community within whatever city he chooses. 

OK then, I understand comfort, but is that REALLY the big reason for choosing a city? What about the money? What about the comfort of knowing there's a solid club there to win it all?  I got a great comment from someone I believe from Chicago basically saying the Yankees aren't as good as the Cubs long term... I appreciate the comment...

But I respectfully disagree.  Thank you very much for commenting though.

Some on Twitter suggested that maybe Ichiro Suzuki and Hiroki Kuroda should wine and dine Tanaka.

“@stefiegirlNYG: @BleednYankeeBlu I think Kuroda n Ichiro should take #Tanaka out to dinner! Think it'll really really really help! #Yankees
— karan marker (@puppynut) January 19, 2014

I said throw in Hideki Matsui while you're at it. No one had a better time than he in the Bronx.

Oh... and Seattle? According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times... it appears that we were correct... maybe.  Seattle may be officially out of the running. Read HERE, "The Mariners are not on that list. GM Jack Zduriencik did not go to LA to see Tanaka when he was meeting with teams. The Mariners were definitely interested in Tanaka. But it appears the team may have been priced out of contention or Tanaka’s interest in Seattle wasn’t as high as some thought."

We'll keep you posted... decision soon... that's what we DO know.

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