With Masahiro Tanaka Signed, Expect Other Pitching Deals to Follow

Japanese import Masahiro Tanaka is headed to the New York Yankees after inking an astronomical seven-year, $155 million contract. With Tanaka in the Bronx, expect a wave of transactions related to starting pitchers leading up to the debut of spring training.

Veteran free agents Ubaldo Jimenez, Matt Garza, Bronson Arroyo, Paul Maholm and Jason Hammel are still searching for destinations. Teams that appear to have starting pitching surplus – like the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays – are likely to draw interest from teams in need to rotation help.

Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Felix Doubront are entrenched in Boston’s rotation plans for 2014, but Jake Peavy or  Ryan Dempster could be moved since they have one year left on their contract, and the Red Sox have significant pitching depth.

Brandon Workman, who could open the 2014 season in the bullpen, was impressive as a starter during his Major League debut in the last half of 2013. The Red Sox are also fond of top prospects like Anthony Ranaudo, Matt Barnes, Allen Webster, Rubby De La Rosa and Henry Owens. They will likely open 2014 in the minors, but their presence – and the existing depth at the big league level – means that general manager Ben Cherington could deal Peavy or Dempster if the return is favorable.

In Tampa Bay, David Price recently signed a one-year, $14 million contract.  Since the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner can become a free agent following the 2015 campaign, the typically frugal Rays could still trade him for a haul of prospects and young Major Leaguers under long-term team control.

With Price atop the rotation, the Rays have a chance to contend for a World Series title. If they decide to trade him before Opening Day, those odds will be greatly diminished, but the long-term benefit could be too tempting for the club’s front office to pass up.