ORLANDO, Fla. — The two most significant hurdles between Masahiro Tanaka and the major leagues were supposed to be:
1. MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball reaching agreement on a new posting system (which is now close to finalization).
2. A team spending the millions upon millions of dollars to win the post and then to sign the righty.
But now we must add a third item: The Mother of All Physicals.
Officials from multiple clubs expected to try to land Tanaka told me they are extremely concerned about how hard he was pushed to help his Rakuten Golden Eagles win a championship. It is possible this was brinksmanship to scare off suitors or an early form of negotiations to lower the eventual payout.
However, I spoke to these officials individually, not collectively, and I did sense genuine worry Tanaka threw four complete games in five postseason starts plus relieved twice, including throwing 15 pitches to earn the save in the decisive game 24 hours after expending 160 pitches in a start.
“That is not standard operating procedure for how you use someone you see as an investment,” said a top official from a club expected to bid for Tanaka.
Now, Tanaka just turned 25 and one of the items MLB clubs saw as attractive was his youth and that he would be leaving now rather than waiting until his free agency would come after the 2015 season. This, in theory, saves Tanaka from some abuse possibilities.
Also, the heavy workload is not going to curtail a group of ambitious bidders led probably by the Yankees and Dodgers, but also likely to include the Angels, Diamondbacks and several others.
Still, an executive from another interested club said, “To get this deal done, [Tanaka] is going to have to take the most thorough physical ever, get shot full of dye so a team here can really know as much as possible about his shoulder and elbow. It does not seem impossible to me that you can have a team win the post and then not like what they see and just not sign [Tanaka].”
One team the Mets had hoped to bring into talks for Ike Davis or Lucas Duda was the Rockies. But it seems unlikely.
Instead, Colorado plans to move Michael Cuddyer from right field (where he is defensively challenged) to first base to replace the retired Todd Helton. Then move another defensively challenged player, catcher Wilin Rosario, to right field, where the Rockies feel he has enough athleticism and arm to play. The idea was then to get a better defensive catcher.
Colorado made a two-year offer with an option believed to be worth roughly $16 million to Carlos Ruiz. But they were told he has a two-year, $20 million deal on the table, which if it is the case means he will not play for the Rockies. Philadelphia wants to retain Ruiz, but several executives believe the Blue Jays could push hard for the veteran.
Reds GM Walt Jocketty said the club will decide no later than Jan. 1 whether to turn closer Aroldis Chapman into a starter. However, one club official said “that ship probably sailed last year if we were going to do this.” The feeling is Chapman, who has 38 saves in each of the past two years, is now more intractable about such a move.
Cincinnati is likely to lose free agent Bronson Arroyo. And though they still have Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Tony Cingrani, the Reds want to find another starter.
New manager and former pitching coach Bryan Price suggested at his introductory press conference that moving Chapman into the rotation was a possibility, and it is believed Price is an advocate of doing just that.
The Reds also want to settle their outfield situation, and though the bidding could exceed $100 million on Shin-Sin Choo, Cincy might not back away in an attempt to keep the on-base machine.
Cincinnati believes speedster Billy Hamilton now is ready to handle center field defensively. But they would prefer he get more minor league time to further refine his offense. They know Choo is an imperfect center fielder, but would look to play him at that position one more year, then perhaps move him to a corner in 2015 and insert Hamilton in center.
Former major league infielder Jody Reed, who managed the Dodgers’ Double-A team last year, was hired by the Yankees to be their minor league roving instructor. Reed had worked in the organization from 2007-10.
Arizona wanted to hire former Cardinals pitching coach/guru Dave Duncan for the same job, but Duncan did not want the role full time. Instead, he accepted a position as pitching consultant and assistant to the general manager.
The Diamondbacks plan to interview Yankees bullpen coach Mike Harkey and Triple-A pitching coach Scott Aldred.
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti on signing ace Clayton Kershaw to a long-term contract — which could exceed $200 million and perhaps approach 10 years at $300 million: “We’d like to have him. We drafted him. We developed him. He is one of the best pitchers in the game. He is left-handed. And he is great for us besides when he is even pitching.”