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MLB Rumors: New York Yankees to be ‘very aggressive’ in signing Masahiro Tanaka

By Josh Hill

Feb 28, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; A detail of a New York Yankees logo painted on the field for a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; A detail of a New York Yankees logo painted on the field for a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 28, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; A detail of a New York Yankees logo painted on the field for a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; A detail of a New York Yankees logo painted on the field for a spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Right now, the hottest name in baseball is Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. He’s been rumored to be on the radar of just about every team in baseball and just about everyone in the Majors have at least kicked the tires on the idea of possibly signing him.

The New York Yankees were rumored to be an early suitor for Tanaka, but they’ve fallen back a bit in conversations about the pitcher.

According to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, the Yankees are not out on Tanaka and are prepared to be very aggressive in signing him this offseason.

"The luxury-tax goal has not at all hindered their pursuit of Tanaka, Steinbrenner insisted, and an industry source said the Yankees have made a “very aggressive” offer to the 25-year-old. They would rather win on Tanaka and lose on their luxury-tax goal."

There was some talk of the Yankees trying to get under the luxury tax and not spend a ton of money this offseason, but with the bidding expected to get as high as $120 million for Tanaka and even higher, the getting luxury tax is once again no issue to the Yankees.

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