Get your popcorn ready, folks.
When it comes to the free-agent tour for Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, expect a whirlwind of rumors, news and excitement over the next two weeks. By the end of January, the top pitcher on the market will pick a team, starting a domino effect for the rest of baseball's available players.
At this point, it's probably easier to list the teams not interested in Tanaka. With a posting fee of only $20 million—owed only when Tanaka's signature is on a free-agent contract—almost any team, in any market, can engage the 25-year-old pitcher in a conversation.
From there, the fun begins.
Earlier this week, Tanaka arrived in the United States, ready and willing to meet with teams. In the interest of time, the right-handed pitcher took a physical exam upon arriving in Los Angeles, with the idea of distributing one medical report to all interested parties, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Assuming that medical report comes up clean, expect the contract offers to roll in quickly.
Here's a rundown of all the latest rumors and news surrounding Tanaka's U.S. recruiting tour.
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