JIM BOWDEN KNOWS WHERE ROKI SASAKI'S SIGNING

Jim Bowden just couldn’t help himself. 

Bowden went there. Bowden went all in like he’s playing poker with Monopoly money and loving every second of it. While other baseball insiders are stumbling around like they’ve forgotten how to tie their cleats, desperately trying to get the latest scoop on Roki Sasaki, Bowden is out here throwing fastballs of his own. And boy, did he just throw a heater with his latest prediction about Sasaki joining the Yankees. It’s so aggressive, it’s almost like Bowden's trying to sign him himself.

Bowden, the maestro of bold takes over at The Athletic, is out here waving off the Dodgers like they’re yesterday’s news. In Bowden’s world, Sasaki is either headed to the Yankees or the Padres. Why? Well, here’s the gem of logic Bowden blessed us with: "His favorite player growing up was Masahiro Tanaka, which would lead me to guess he was at least somewhat of a Yankees fan. He considers Yu Darvish a godfather-type influence, and the Padres veteran mentored Sasaki during Japan’s championship run in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Therefore, for no other reason, I’ll predict he signs with either the Yankees or San Diego."

Bowden’s putting his chips on the table, all because Sasaki looked up to Tanaka and has a bromance with Darvish. That’s it. That’s the nugget. Sure, it sounds great in a “baseball is just a big buddy movie” kind of way, but come on, Jim! Signing contracts isn’t exactly like picking your best man for a wedding.

Yes, Tanaka was Sasaki’s childhood hero, clocking in 78 wins during his Yankees days. And Darvish? He had a decent run with the Padres in 2024, with a 7-3 record and a 3.31 ERA, despite only pitching 81.2 innings. But are those the deciding factors here? It’s like saying you picked your college because they have a great mascot.

Bowden’s out here making contract negotiations sound as easy as ordering off a fast-food menu, but we all know it’s a tad more complicated than that. Is it fun to imagine Sasaki signing with the Yankees or Padres? Absolutely. Is it likely? Well, that’s another story. But hey, Bowden’s having a blast, and we’re all just along for the ride. 

Stay tuned—there’s more drama to unfold, and Bowden will surely be right in the thick of it, stirring the pot.

LEGIT BASEBALL INSIDER FEELS GOOD ABOUT HIS PREDICTION FOR ROKI SASAKI

Predicting where Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki will end up in Major League Baseball is like predicting the weather in April: a mix of guesswork, hope, and squinting at some charts. But ESPN’s David Schoenfield has been among the boldest to venture a forecast. Granted, even Schoenfield admits, “It’s just guessing at this point.”

The Yankees and Mets are both leaning hard into their Big Apple charm to woo Sasaki to the East Coast. Meanwhile, West Coast teams seem to have the natural edge, thanks to their geographical closeness to Japan and the allure of fewer time zones to traverse. The Dodgers, Padres, and perhaps even a surprise contender all remain in the mix. Honestly, it’s a bit like trying to guess which of your friends will actually show up to brunch—everyone says they’re interested, but who knows?

"I'll stick to my original prediction here," Schoenfield wrote on Tuesday, doubling down on his Padres pick. "From a career standpoint, it makes sense for him to go to a team in a good park for pitchers, so that could mean any of the West Coast teams (aside from the A's)—who might already have a small geographical advantage anyway. The Dodgers can pitch their winning ways, while the Padres can sell their smaller market and playing alongside Yu Darvish, Sasaki's favorite player as a kid. Of course, don't rule out the Yankees or Mets if the big-market 'issue' isn't really an issue."

In short: The West Coast has mountains and nice weather; the East Coast has... bagels and Broadway.

The Dodgers, as usual, bring their A-game to the table. They’ve built a reputation as the honors students of pitching development, and the addition of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to their roster only strengthens their appeal. Who wouldn’t want to join a team where your potential roommates are other Japanese superstars?

But don’t sleep on the Padres. San Diego offers a chill, mid-market vibe that might suit Sasaki just fine. Plus, Yu Darvish—the pitcher Sasaki grew up idolizing—is ready to roll out the welcome mat (and maybe even throw in some surf lessons). Oh, and let’s not forget Hideo Nomo, the original trailblazing Japanese MLB star, who happens to be a special assistant for the Padres. Talk about a recruiting dream team.

Meanwhile, the Yankees and Mets are hovering like big-market hawks, ready to swoop in with their massive checkbooks. If Sasaki doesn’t mind the bright lights and high rents, they could still make a compelling case.

Schoenfield thinks the Padres have the edge, but at the end of the day, it’s anyone’s game. Sasaki’s decision will not only shape his career but also leave one fanbase fist-pumping while the others wonder what might have been. Stay tuned—it’s going to be a wild ride.

JAPANESE STUD YAMAMOTO SETS RECORD AS MLB FREE AGENCY LOOMS

It's a good time to be Yoshinobu Yamamoto right now. He's grabbed the spotlight at the right time, just before he becomes a MLB free agent and everyone is watching, eagerly.

The Orix Buffaloes ace set a record in Game 6 of the Japan Series, with 14 strikeouts and no walks over 138 pitches in a 5-1 complete-game victory over the Hanshin Tigers to force a decisive seventh game. His 14 strikeouts broke Yu Darvish's previous milestone of 13 strikeouts back in 2007. You can read more about it HERE.

This is the perfect event to add even more hype around Yamamoto's impending MLB posting by the Orix Buffaloes this winter. Yamamoto has a 16-8 record with a 1.21 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 164 innings. It is expected that bigging will start at $200 million over six or seven years which would surpass the $155 million that Masahiro Tanaka received from the Yankees back in 2014.

The Yankees need more rotation help, and they've already been connected to several names. They will always be tied to several names whether it is credible or not just because it's the Yankees. I like the idea of adding an ace to strengthen the rotation.... but are the Yankees a good fit for Yamamoto?

I definitely want him to be, but the Yankees are a hot mess right now. I am not sure the success they had with Tanaka, is realistic right now. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but the Yankees are so lost right now. I don't have confidence they won't ruin him. We've already seen the Yankees tamper and ruin some talent; Deivi Garcia was the perfect example. They tinkered with him and tried to make him into something he wasn't, and it didn't end well. We covered it in ANALYTICS FAILED DEIVI GARCIA AND NOW THERE IS PROOF!

Yamamoto will have a new league to get used to, and if the Yankees are fortunate enough to outbid everyone else and gain Yamamoto's arm in the rotation that would be huge. I just don't have faith that the Yankees won't ruin him, too. We've seen it before. 

The Yankees are too analytics driven and are too good at using them incorrectly and I don't think they are willing to change their ways. I just hope it won't damage Yamamoto....or anyone else.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

COULD TANAKA REMAIN A YANKEE?

Source: AP

The sun could come out for Masahiro Tanaka in the Bronx, maybe. As the latest Yankee pitching prospect heads to San Diego, the Yankees and Tanaka could work out potentially work out a deal that would keep the pitcher in New York.

Source: Chicago Sun Times

On Tuesday, the San Diego Padres acquired Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Joe Musgrove, a guy the Yankees had their eye on to fill a much needed starting rotation hole and who was also in line with their salary guidelines. According to ESPN, "Musgrove will be the third starting pitcher acquired via trade by the Padres this offseason. San Diego picked up left-hander Blake Snell and right-hander Yu Darvish in separate blockbuster trades last month with the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs, respectively." 

Source: San Diego Union Tribune

Shut tightly is door number three for Tanaka. It was presumed that Tanaka would head out to a California team a few years back before the Yankees resigned him. With former pitching coach Larry Rothschild. and buddy Yu Darvish, Tanaka could have settled in well with the Padres and gotten the salary he is seeking. Now with that option off the table, the Yankee starter has presumably two choices, the Yankees or back to Japan.

Source: Japan Times

"MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported Monday that “while the Yankees and Masahiro Tanaka are still in contact, there appears to be a good chance he pitches elsewhere. There’s said to be strong interest in Japan, and the likelihood of a much bigger deal there," reported NJ.com. 

Tanaka has been consistent for the Bombers over the years. He alway pitched well when he need to, he always suffered some sort of set back and he always needed an extra day's rest to be his best self. He would be welcomed back to New York and to the arms of fans. I would say sign him for one year and see what happens. Go over the salary cap, pay the penalty and win the pennant. C'mon Yankees, the options are very limited and why not go with a sure thing. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

"THE RUMOR SEASON IS CRAZY"... STARRING GIANCARLO STANTON!

It's the offseason, and there is no baseball fan out there that isn't dreaming up ideas about how to improve their team. I do it all of the time with my Angels fan husband. Baseball insiders also dream up ideas too, but sometimes their dreams are pretty far from reality.

Maybe you have seen Joel Sherman's recent piece, if not you can read it HERE. Nothing wrong with a little creativity, but I think some of these are a little too outside of the box. Sherman ranks the Yankees offseason priorities as re-signing DJ LeMahieu, strengthen the rotation, and look at a possible shortstop replacement so Gleyber Torres can go back to second. All good ideas but he says "BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE" the Yankees should try to trade Giancarlo Stanton even though it could be a "non-starter." HUH? Why waste time on a "non-starter" and risk missing out on LeMahieu or anything else far more realistic?

That's a crazy approach to the offseason but anyway, on to his trade proposals! 

Proposal #1: Send Stanton and a prospect to the Padres for Eric Hosmer and Wil Myers.
The Padres will be contenders moving forward, and the Padres GM likes big names (like Manny Machado) as they continue to build a championship caliber team. The Padres would actually benefit with a bit of savings if this were to happen. Myers and Hosmer will make $40 million over the next two seasons, so they would shed some payroll while the Yankees would actually add more. The Yankees are responsible for $19 million of Stanton's salary, while the Marlins pay the remaining $10 million. The Yankees are rumored to be looking to shed some payroll, not add to it.

And besides the payroll factor, it adds more complication to the Yankees roster. Hosmer adds a valuable lefty bat, but Luke Voit is a much cheaper option and still has a potent bat. Then what about Meyers? He's an outfielder and we have plenty of those. Why spend the extra money when the Yankees have cheaper options already. If the Yankees really needed an outfielder they could just bring back Brett Gardner at a much better price or sign a cheaper free agent. 

Proposal #2: Send Stanton and prospects to the Cubs for Yu Darvish, Jason Heyward and Craig Kimbrel

I don't see why the Cubs would agree to this. The Cubs have other pitchers that are hitting free agency, and Yu Darvish is probably their best starter. If the Cubs know they are likely to lose other starters over the winter trading away a trusted asset doesn't make a lot of sense. There isn't a lot of great pitching on the market this winter, so it makes more sense to hold him and not spend money on a market that isn't as attractive.

Then there is Heyward. First, I am not a big Heyward fan. He's too inconsistent and he's all or nothing. His stats the last few seasons are a roller coaster. I'd rather the Yankees just stick with their options they already have in house, they have a lot of them. As far as Kimbrel goes, he's an expensive reliever who isn't reliable anymore. He used to be good, but those days are gone. If the Yankees needed a reliever, there are better options that cost a lot less. 

I have a hard time with this option because it really doesn't make the Cubs any better, so they have no reason to say "yes" to this trade.

I can't say that either of these options really make sense, but I like to talk baseball. I like trades, rumors and crazy ideas like these. I will read them all, even if I don't agree with them. I like Sherman's creativity, but I think he's lost his marbles with this one.

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE LOGIC OF JOEL SHERMAN

Photo: Chuck Crow, the Plain Dealer

I love Joel Sherman and love to hate him some days... but when I say that... I love to read him.

Great piece today about the Yankees and the intrigue of guys like Manny Machado, Corey Kluber and Patrick Corbin and whether or not they can do something strategic, smart and slick... taking the patience of today's Yankees with the selfishness and "want" of the old regime.  And to be honest, the article was terrific. I enjoyed every moment of it. A tip of the cap to Sherman.

This part of the article was what really caught my eye:

"I sense the Yankees are, at minimum, intrigued by Machado, and his signing would give them latitude to use Miguel Andujar as the central trade piece to obtain Kluber — taking a logical leap that the Indians like the AL Rookie of the Year runner-up enough to deal their ace. Imagine 10 years at $330 million for Machado, six years at $126 million for Corbin (the Yu Darvish pact from last offseason) and the assumption of Kluber’s Indians contract, which, if his 2020-21 options are picked up, has three years at $52.5 million left, but costs just $11.3 million toward the luxury tax in 2019. "

Photo: AP

The thinking is there and it's brilliant and I can actually picture it.  Now do I like Manny Machado on the Yankees? Not 100% no.  I think there needs to be some maturity from this guy. And the irony is, he's a veteran at this point, and some of the Yankee youngsters... like Aaron Judge for instance, show more hustle and maturity than Machado.  But he can play, and he would fit in nicely.

Photo: AP

And what are the Yankees thinking when it comes to Miguel Andujar? Well... they love him, but they need pitching and guess what... if he won the ROY award I think it may be harder to part with him. But he didn't... say those writers, and now maybe that helps them flip him for a Corey Kluber. I'd hate to see Miggy go... but we need to bolster the starting rotation, and sometimes you need to trade high to get high. Sadly... it's business.

Look... this could be fantasyland for all I know. I do know this... I love this article today and appreciated this scenario.  It's new and refreshing.

Let's see what happens next, shall we?

DARVISH'S AGENT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT "CLASSLESS" IS

Photo: Chicago Tribune

Alex Rodriguez is a baseball analyst now and part of his job is give his opinion and analyze stuff. That's pretty easy. Truth be told, he does pretty good at it.

Well, he made a comment about Yu Darvish that literally no one blinked about... except for Yu Darvish's agent, who clearly doesn't like Alex, because last time I checked, an offensive, racist gesture by Yuli Gurriel was much worse... and agent Joel Wolfe was no where to be found when that happened.

Anyway, it's like this... USA Today has the story:

"Sports agent Joel Wolfe, who represents Chicago Cubs injured pitcher Yu Darvish, fired back at ESPN broadcaster Alex Rodriguez on Monday for suggesting his client was a negative influence on the team's clubhouse.

Rodriguez accused the pitcher of being a distraction while he was shown rehabbing in the dugout..."

Alex said... "When you have a guy that signs an enormous contract and he's sitting down, and you walk in the training room, and he's got two trainers working on him, you go into the video room and you have a guy looking at video ... he should be in Arizona somewhere getting treated. But don't get in the way of 25 players going after one mission: to win a ball game."

Darvish's agent said of Rodriguez: "I think it was classless and bordered on unprofessional."

Now...rewind. Remember this? October 2017. The LA Times will set it up:

"After hitting a home run off the Dodgers' Yu Darvish, Gurriel put his fingers to the sides of his face, lifted the corners of his eyes and mouthed the word 'chinito,' Spanish for 'Chinese boy.' Darvish, who was born in Japan, is of Japanese and Iranian descent."

Where was Joel Wolfe then? Not a single comment. We were outraged. We wrote about it. In fact, it was Darvish himself that came out and told the world he wasn't offended, but God forbid ARod says something he is paid to do... this Wolfe guy goes nutty.

I find it stupid.  If Darvish was smart, he'd get another agent, this guy doesn't know what "classless" really is...

THE YANKEES HAVE THEIR EYE ON THIS PITCHER

It's Spring Training! FINALLY! But....it's Spring Training with some of the biggest names still unemployed and looking for a new home. I'm sitting here waiting for the flood gates to open. These guys that want a job are behind the eight ball. They should be ready to jump on a deal, right?

So could there be some truth to this Lance Lynn and Yankees connection that Jon Morosi wrote about? Now that Yu Darvish signed with the Cubs the rest of the pitching market should fall into place. Could it be Lynn and could he be a realistic Yankee target?

There are some things I really like about Lynn. Before he got hurt and missed all of 2016 he was an innings eater averaging 189 innings between 2012 and 2015.

The Yankees have a lot of concerns with their pitchers. CC Sabathia has a bad knee and already rolled his foot in Spring Training, Luis Severino threw 193 innings last season and Masahiro Tanaka has had elbow surgery before and missed time last season with a shoulder injury. It's a long season, and we know how the Yankees have had their fair share of injuries. Even in a worst case scenario they would at least have an experienced veteran to add some stability to the rotation.

The Yankees want that extra arm but leaving enough room in the budget for mid-season additions will be key. If the Yankees could get Lynn at a price they like they would be getting a guy that not only can give them some length but knows how to perform under postseason pressure. If we could add a guy with the postseason experience it could give them a winning advantage.

Lynn already knows what it is like to win a World Series. He's pitched most of his career on a contending team, maybe he could do it again for us.

But if the Yankees do want Lynn it won't be so easy. This market has been so odd, it's hard to tell at this point what other teams are willing to spend. I have a feeling this is going to come to a bidding war. We haven't been shy with bidding wars in the past but this season the Yankees are determined to get under the luxury tax which means for once we are at a disadvantage against other teams.

To make it harder money is not the only cost of acquiring Lynn. He did reject a qualifying offer from the Cardinals and since the Yankees paid luxury tax last year, we would have to surrender our second and fifth round draft picks, as well as $1M in international bonus money to sign Lynn. I'd rather lose out on the international money instead of the draft picks, but it is what it is. I like Lynn....but do I like the draft picks more? I don't know.

In the end Lynn makes sense for a team on paper....but does he make sense for a contending Yankees team? Hmmmm...

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

YU DARVISH WILL NOT BE A YANKEE

Source: SB Nation

Yu Darvish will not be a Yankee and I am relieved.  He won't even be in the American League, so that's a double good deal. According to NJ.com Saturday, "The Cubs and Yu Darvish have agreed to a six-year, $126-million deal, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The Yankees could use starting pitching -- the rotation seems good, but thin -- and though they had been linked to the 31-year-old righty, they never appeared to be serious suitors for him."  So, we move on...and wrap our heads around a starting rotation that has possibilities, without moving Chad Green.

Source: Newsday

Green has said that he will enter 2018 Yankees Spring Training as a starter.  As Bryan Hoch reported earlier in the fall, "Cashman noted that a return to the bullpen would be a fallback option for Green, who posted a remarkable 1.83 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 103:17 K:BB across 69 innings while serving primarily as a reliever in 2017. The 26-year-old has flashed potential as a starter in the past, posting a 1.52 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 100:21 K:BB in 16 starts (94.2 innings) with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2016, though he's yet to put it together in the majors (6.10 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in nine big-league starts). His role for 2018 will be determined in spring training," according to CBS Sports.

Source: NY Daily News

But here is my worry about Green going from middle reliever to starter: The Phil Hughes/Joba Chamberlain Curse.  I am sorry to bring this up, but I can't help it.  I worry that by changing things up for Green, who has been an indispensable member of the Yankee pitching staff, we run the risk of ruining a good thing, and devaluing Green's continuity and contributions to the team where he has been so successful- from the bullpen.  Both Hughes and Chamberlain lost their luster when the Yankees "played with their role" and I don't want to see this happen to Green.  Fool me once, fool me twice...but not three times!

Source: USA Today

So, unless we can unload some salary (a.k.a Jacoby Ellsbury) then we have no choice but to go with who we have unless there is a Luis Severino-like pitcher in the farm system that elevates to a standout in spring training.  A sixth starter will give us a safety net, in case someone goes down or needs to skip a start due to overuse, which is likely.  But, please don't let it be Green.  We need keep him right where he is. Good luck in Chicago, Darvish!

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THE YANKEES HAVE 'CHECKED IN' ON THIS PITCHER...

WILL VRAGOVIC | Tampa Bay Times

And no one saw it coming... except for Ken Rosenthal of course. The Athletic writes that the Yankees have looked into the possibility of adding Tampa Bay Rays righty Jake Odorizzi. OK then.

"The intentions of the New York Yankees, who have checked in on Odorizzi at various points, are less clear. The Yankees’ rotation seemingly is set with Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Severino, Sonny Gray, CC Sabathia and Jordan Montgomery. But the team has been trying to trade center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury to clear money for other pursuits, including a possible run at Darvish...

Photo: Tampa Bay Times

Odorizzi finished with a 4.14 ERA and allowed 30 home runs in 143 1/3 innings last season, missing time from July 26 to Aug. 9 due to a lower back strain but producing a 1.72 ERA in his final six starts."

There's not a lot there, but what is there is the Yankees continued intent to try and get an extra arm in that Yankee rotation that is not overly expensive, BUT still reliable.

We will have to see what happens here, but it's an interesting nugget, and you know I love nuggets.

TANAKA'S SMARTEST DECISION

Oct. 13, 2017 - Source: Elsa/Getty Images North America

It's a damn good thing that Masahiro Tanaka didn't opt out of his contract at the end of last season. Right now, his decision has really paid off because unlike several other pitchers on the market he has a job and damn good paying one too.

Sept. 3, 2017 - Source: Justin Berl/Getty Images North America

I wonder if he thinks much about that. Seriously, three years and $67 million in guaranteed money is a lot more than what he would likely get on the open market. This off season has sucked and I am sure Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish wouldn't disagree with that right now. Here we are less than a week until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training and they don't have a job. When these guys do get a job it won't be anywhere near what they were hoping to get.

As much as Tanaka will be happy to keep his check for another three years it sounds like he has become pretty attached to the team and he's ready to pick up where he left off. In a story with the New York Post he's ready to get back to the Postseason and get past the ALCS this time.

Photo: Getty Images

Considering how strange this off season has been it is no wonder why we now go back to the question "Are MLB Players overpaid?" as MLB Trade Tumors dug deeper into that question. Players contracts get pricier as do the tickets and food we buy at the game. It's grown into a frenzy that people have a lot to opinions on. Someone even told me today that they don't like watching the game anymore. It's not the same for them anymore. It's all about money for the players, not the game in its purist form and the strategy. Players don't have pride like they used to.

Oct. 10, 2017 - Source: Jason Miller/Getty Images North America

But maybe Tanaka is the exception now. He didn't know this off season was going to be a snoozer. Opting out of contracts these days is a "normal" thing for a player and he could've done that. He didn't though and he is still here. He WANTS to be here.

“I’ve been with the organization four years,” Tanaka said through his interpreter. “We went into battle with these guys. Last year, especially, went where we wanted to go. My thought was, ‘I want to go out and battle with these guys again and try to get where we really want to get. That was my thought process about returning to the Yankees.”

Photo: Getty Images

Tanaka had a rather inconsistent season. The ERA was up and so were the home runs. In 2016 he gave up 22 home runs, this past season that went up to 35. He battled through it and got himself back on track at the end of the season and in the postseason. That was the guy we knew he could be and I think is motivated to get back there.

I like where Tanaka's head is at right now. He seems determined and ready to get back to winning with new faces of Aaron Boone calling the shots and Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield. It's going to be a good season, hell I think a great season.

So at least for right now it's not all about the money. It's all about Tanaka and a World Series Ring. It's sounds like Tanaka is ready.....and so are we.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj