MLB Rumors: Mariners And Yankees Are Most Likely Masahiro Tanaka Suitors Reports Baseball America

With each passing day, the rumors surrounding Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka continue to grow. Multiple MLB clubs have already shown varying levels of interest in the superb talent but with the 25-year-old recently expressing his desire to earn at least $17 million per season, only a few teams are expected to remain in the race due to financial reasons. The club that eventually signs the righty will have to pay a $20 million posting fee to his former team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles, but with a handful of typically high-spending baseball teams in the market for pitching, financial limitations won't impact the big free agent spenders.

According to Baseball America, the Seattle Mariners -- even after inking former New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano to a ten-year, $240 million contract last month -- are the early favorites to land the services of Tanaka. Posting an unblemished 24-0 record last year in the Pacific League while throwing up a strong 1.27 ERA, Tanaka would be a tremendous fit in the Mariners rotation. Stacking the rising star with former Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez and Japanese native Hisashi Iwakuma -- who went 14-6 last season in Seattle -- would be another step toward bringing the Mariners back to relevancy.

The New York Yankees -- who at the moment only have three guaranteed starters in CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova and Hiroki Kuroda -- are viewed as the second most-likely team to land Tanaka. Already signing free agents in catcher Brian McCann and outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran among others, the Yankees have not been shy about their desire to add starting pitching and a player like Masahiro Tanaka certainly fits their needs. In addition to Seattle and New York, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers are also said to have a significant level of interest in the Japanese talent.

Current Yankees outfielder Vernon Wells, who is in high favor of New York signing Tanaka, said teammate Hiroki Kuroda could be a huge asset in recruiting the 25-year-old since he can relay what it's like to pitch in multiple big markets. Before joining the Yankees, Kuroda enjoyed high success with the Los Angeles Dodgers, so he is obviously no stranger to the bright lights.

“He's a great person to be a mentor to him,” Wells said of Kuroda. “He's been in a couple of different big markets, being in L.A. And New York. Knowing the changes, knowing what comes with the travel that we have, the schedule that we have. Texas has a guy (Yu Darvish) that has been through it and done it as well. So you're going to have quite a few choices and great organizations to choose from.”