Dodgers reportedly among clubs to offer Tanaka deal
But LA is not pursuing righty in aggressive manner it showed for Ryu last year
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers are among MLB teams that submitted a formal contract offer for free-agent pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, according to a published report in Japan.
Nikkan Sports reported the Yankees, D-backs, Cubs and White Sox also made offers.
According to a baseball source, the Dodgers still are not pursuing Tanaka with the aggressiveness they showed last year, when they outbid every team for the right to sign Hyun-Jin Ryu.
The right-handed Tanaka, 25, has gone 99-35 with a 2.30 ERA in seven seasons in Japan -- including 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA last year -- and is expected to fetch a contract in the $100 million range, in addition to the expected $20 million posting.
He was posted by the Rakuten Golden Eagles in December and has until Jan. 24 to reach a deal. If he and agent Casey Close can't work out an agreement with a big league team, Tanaka will return to Japan to play next season.