MLB Free Agency: Masahiro Tanaka returns to Japan after meeting with teams

Dec 11, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Rakuten Golden Eagles president Yozo Tachibana (right) walks through the lobby during the MLB Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Tachibana has not decided whether or not to allow Masahiro Tanaka (not pictured) to sign with a MLB team now that Nippon Professional Baseball and the MLB have agreed on a $20 Million maximum posting bid. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports /

Masahiro Tanaka’s January 24th deadline is slowly approaching and teams are prepared to extend offers. He was allowed to take some tours while meeting with a couple teams over the last several days but nothing has come out of it.

The only thing we know right now is that three teams including the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim could be the finalists to land him. Not sure how the Dodgers fit in any of this since Hanley Ramirez and Clayton Kershaw are looking for long-term deals, but alright.

The Angels need someone like Tanaka to help balance out their rotation and as for the Yankees, they’re the Yankees. They’re always serious contenders for big name free agents no matter where they are from. If they’re able to help them win, they’ll throw out big money to make sure they land them.

Now according to Bill Plunkett on Twitter, Masahiro Tanaka has flown back to Japan after meeting with eight or nine teams. Those teams include the Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels and I’m sure the Seattle Mariners.

Masahiro Tanaka has returned to Japan after meeting with 8-9 teams in SoCal. Japanese reports Yankees, Cubs, DBacks specifically had meeting
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) January 12, 2014

The hunt for Masahiro Tanaka’s services will come to an end soon.

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