Source: Rakuten Agrees To Post Masahiro Tanaka

Great new’s for the MLB has made its way across the Pacific. According to reports from Japan, the Rakuten Golden Eagles will post RHP Masahiro Tanaka. This move is to be made just shortly after the MLB reached a new posting agreement with the Nippon Professional League.

The new posting agreement allows teams to bid for their players services at a maximum of 20$ million dollars. This dollar amount I am sure has to be more than frustrating for the Golden Eagles due to the fact that they will receive ONLY 20 million for Tanaka to make his way across the Pacific.

Rakuten has to feel that they are being ‘shorted’ compared to the posting fees that previous clubs have received for Japanese hurlers such as Daisuke Matsuzaka ($51 million) and Yu Darvish ($51 million).

The rumors swirling around the Japanese ace have not died down, even after reports that Rakuten was not going to post him. Jorge L. Ortiz, of USA Today Sports, recently wrote that “the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels were among the teams believed to be most interested in Tanaka.”

The reigning Pacific League MVP posted a historic 24-0 regular season record to go along with a ridiculous 1.27ERA.

Seattle Mariners blue would be a great look. Hisashi Iwakuma, we need you now more than ever buddy. Put your recruiting skills to work and bring your former teammate to the Northwest!