MLB Rumors: Yankees, Dodgers And Angels Emerge As Favorites For Japanese Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka

With MLB free agent rumors continuing to heat up, a major part of the focus is centered on Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Coming off a 2013 campaign in Japan’s Pacific League where he posted a perfect 24-0 record and 1.27 ERA for the Rakuten Golden Eagles, the 25-year-old superstar has become the top free agent pitching target for multiple MLB clubs but according to sources, the right-hander has narrowed his list to three teams. An original list of more than a dozen ball clubs held varying degrees of interest but after a Japanese newspaper indicated that the Japan Series champion pitcher now has an idea of where he’ll sign, many clubs are expected to drop out of the race.

According to Sporting News MLB, Masahiro Tanaka has trimmed his list down to the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels, with the Yankees reportedly at the top of the list. Tanaka began setting up meetings with Major League Baseball teams last week but due to the fact that he has until January 24 to sign a contract and complete a physical with a team, Japanese media reports feel that the Yankees, Dodgers and Angels have emerged as the preferred landing spots of Tanaka. NBC Sports also indicated that Tanaka’s wife, Japanese pop singer Mai Satoda, prefers to be on the West Coast.

In addition to the Yankees, Dodgers and Angels, the Chicago White Sox, Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers among others have looked into the possible acquisition of Tanaka. The Seattle Mariners -- who signed former Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano to a 10-year, $240 million deal this offseason -- are also said to possess a certain degree of interest. If unable to land the Japanese star, clubs will have the option of signing pitchers from the current free agent pool such as Bronson Arroyo, Matt Garza, Johan Santana (who is coming off his second shoulder surgery in three seasons), Ubaldo Jimenez, Ervin Santana and others.