You can't really say Tanaka is going to translate to anything yet because he's never pitched a inning in the MLB... American baseball is on a whole other level than oversees.

The Japanese league has proven it is about on par with AAA, maybe even slightly better in some aspects. So you can project with some comfort level.

Its a risk, for sure, but I just think there's a little less risk with Tanaka. All things equal, I'd prefer him. Younger, more upside, less injury concern, more consistent.

But there's also the fact Santana probably gets 1/2 of what Tanaka does by the time the posting fee is included...

If someone out there is really willing to pay 25 AAV over 6 years for Shields, then do the QO, and get the draft pick.

Won't happen on the AAV IMO. But Fans should probably be prepared that Shields won't be here after this year. I'm ready for it, Duffy needs to bring his A game (he will). And I'm excited for Ventura

If the Royals signed Tanaka I'd probably die from shock.

So would David Glass.

Oh, they won't. But they're not going to sign Santana either. All talking in hypotheticals there.

If you're signing one of them to a big, long-term contract, I think Tanaka is the better bet, is all.

Just met Mr. Penny. Seems like a nice guy. Hes in town

You didn't jump-punch him did you?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Penny, whose deal was first reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo">@ChrisCotillo</a>, has been working out in Lenexa since last September</p>&mdash; Pete Grathoff (@pgrathoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/pgrathoff/statuses/423664248401563648">January 16, 2014</a></blockquote>
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If Shields wants $25M per year for five or six years, he'll definitely be playing somewhere else. For kicks, I looked at Baseball Reference's 10 historic pitchers most similar to Shields through 31. Of the 10 players, Kevin Brown was the only one who arguably performed anywhere near to the level that one would hope to make such a contract worthwhile.

Isn't his No. 1 comp Zack Greinke? Thought I saw someone say that somewhere yesterday.

Don't you have to assume that some of the young pitchers in the Royals system actually make it to the big leagues?

Would a starting five in 2015 be so bad if it was;

Zimmer
Vargus
Guthrie
Duffy
Ventura

Expecting all of them to be successful is wishful thinking.

I think it's a safer to bet against with the track record. Zach Greinke is the only starting pitcher in the past 15 years to pan out from our minors... and even that was tumultuous.

Before Greinke, the last Royals pitcher to come from our minor league system and be successful at the big leagues?

Jose Rosado. And his stay was short.