Sources say the Dodgers are one of three teams in the hunt for Japanese sensation Masahiro Tanaka. The team doesn’t need him to get to the World Series and should shift their focus elsewhere.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently in the hunt for Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, who could be the last big free agent on the market. It has been reported the Dodgers, along with the New York Yankees, and the fading Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are among the three finalists to bid for the starting pitcher’s services.
Although the idea of adding another star pitcher to the already-stacked Dodgers rotation is sexy and exciting to many fans, it may not be necessary for LA to make another huge free agent signing.
There is no doubt that Tanaka is very talented and has an impressive resume after pitching professionally in Japan the past seven seasons. During the 2013 season, the 25-year-old compiled a 24-0 record with a 1.27 ERA while leading his team, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, to a Japan Series championship.
It is also apparent the Dodgers have been very active in signing highly-touted international prospects the past few seasons, acquiring Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig and South Korean lefty Hyun Jin-Ryu. Both had terrific rookie campaigns and contributed significantly to the team’s success last season.
There are several clubs in the MLB who are desperate for starting pitchers who can be go-to guys at the front end of the rotation. However, the Dodgers don’t need an expensive star pitcher like Tanaka in order to get to the next level. Their rotation is already very strong and deep led by the two-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who recently signed a 7-yr, $215 million extension; right hander Zack Greinke, left-hander Ryu, and veteran righty Dan Haren, who signed a one-year, $10 million contract this offseason.
The question marks for the Dodgers rotation lie in the #4 and #5 slots. Haren struggled last season with the Washington Nationals after suffering shoulder inflammation in his pitching arm. Right handers Josh Beckett and Chad Billingsley are both coming off major surgeries and their effectiveness is unknown. They are both in the final years of their respective contracts and the organization would like to see if they can be serviceable starters again.
If the Dodgers want to think about adding a starting pitcher, they need to address the back end of their rotation and fill a hole there without signing a star.
Tanaka also lacks experience with the American game. To commit $60 or $70 million to someone who has never pitched in the MLB and doesn’t know any of the players or teams is always a risk. It worked out last year with Ryu, who won 14 games for the Dodgers, but he also had difficulty at times transitioning and adapting to a foreign team and environment, especially at the beginning of the season.
The biggest reason the Dodgers should avoid signing Tanaka is, because left-handed All-Star David Price should be their focus in the next year or so. Price recently signed a one-year qualifying offer with the Tampa Bay Rays worth $14 million, but it is obvious he will not stay there past the 2014 season. If the Dodgers want to attain another big fish for their starting rotation, Price should be the target they try to bait. He is an ace in every way. He has great leadership qualities, loves taking the ball in big games and wants to be on a team committed to winning, which the Dodgers are.
A rotation that includes Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu, and Price (instead of Tanaka) not only makes them a World Series contender for years, but a candidate for the greatest starting pitching staff of all-time.
Dodgers team president Stan Kasten and the rest of the Guggenheim Baseball Management Group are willing to spend big bucks if it means putting the team in a position to win their first championship since 1988. They won’t allow themselves to get outbid by any team and are driven to stockpile prominent talent on this star-studded roster.
If the Dodgers win the bid for Tanaka and reach an agreement with him, he would certainly be a great asset to the pitching staff and the organization. He could even be the second-coming to Hideo Nomo, who was a huge success with the Dodgers for four seasons. However, his services are not necessary.
The Dodgers don’t need Tanaka or even Price to be a contender this year. They already have a stacked and experienced team. If they want to bring another big name player in Dodger blue to establish a dynasty, then the front office must contemplate this thoroughly and base the decision on need, not want.
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