Tanaka's First Major League Outing a Success

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Masahiro Tanaka, the off-season’s most coveted free agent who was signed by the New York Yankees, made his first official Major League start Friday in Toronto against the Blue Jays. In the bottom of the first inning the it didn’t appear like the 25-year old Japanese phenom was going to have a very good day on the mound. The right-hander gave up a home run to the Blue Jays’ leadoff hitter, Melky Cabrera, on his third pitch.

Certainly an interesting and most likely terrifying way to start off your Major League career that is under the scrutiny of both U.S. and Japanese baseball fans and media. What started out on a bad note ended on a good one for Tanaka. After serving up the homer to Cabrera and two more runs in the second inning, Tanaka settled down into a rhythm that got him his first career win and the Yankees’ their second on the season.

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Atlanta Braves Sign Ervin Santana

A source told ESPN Deportes’ Enrique Rojas that the Atlanta Braves have signed free-agent pitcher Ervin Santana, 31, to a one-year $14 million contract. The deal is pending a physical that will be conducted on Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, FL at the Braves’ spring training facility.

Santana has been on the free-agent market since rejecting a $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Kansas City Royals last fall who will now receive a first round draft pick from the Braves in compensation for Santana.  Santana was originally seeking a long-term deal of at least four-years and $50 million. He was the last big name free-agent pitcher on the market and has been linked to several teams in the past few weeks. Most recently it was believed that Santana would sign with either the Toronto Blue Jays or the Baltimore Orioles for a similar price that he is reportedly going to get from the Braves. He also received a three-year offer from the Minnesota Twins, according to Rojas’ source.

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Breaking News: Santana to go to Jays or Orioles!

For the last big free agent left on the market and with MLB’s Opening Day fast approaching it’s looking like a soap opera of events are about to hit the fan. Sources say that Ervin Santana, who fired his agent last night, has narrowed the teams he may sign with down to the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles. It has also been said that Santana has set a self-imposed deadline to make a decision by 5:00 PM Eastern Time today.

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UPDATE: 5PM ET

Earlier Ervin Santana had a self-imposed deadline of 5pm ET to decide what was believed to be a contract with either the Orioles or Blue Jays. According to @JonMorosi and @MaxWildsteinMLB the deadline has been lifted (obviously by Santana LOL!) and the saga shall continue! My question is did he receive another offer??? hmmm .... 

MLBN's Face of MLB Competition Down to the Final Four!

If you haven't heard about it yet then you must not have a Twitter account. MLB Network's (MLBN) Face of MLB is a bracket-style competition that faces off each of the fan voted "face of the franchise" players against each other. The competition is now down to the Final Four: David Wright of the New York Mets, Eric Sogard of the Oakland Athletics, Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners and Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays.Not who you thought it would be, huh? While Wright and Hernandez may be big names, not one of the teams is a team that gets a lot of press on a regular basis. First are two east coast teams, both usually overshadowed by the New York Yankees and then there are two American League West teams. Let's face it, not many in the eastern U.S. stay up late to watch the A's battle the Mariners!

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Suk-min Yoon to Orioles? Where Does That Leave Remaining FA Starters?

After watching pitcher Suk-min Yoon last week out in California it appears the Baltimore Orioles were impressed about what they saw. The Orioles have reportedly made an offer to right-hander, proving how serious they really are about the young Korean. As the Orioles are one of the main teams still shopping for a starter but seem to have found one, what does this signing mean for free agents Ervin Santana, Ubaldo Jimenez, AJ Burnett and Bronson Arroyo?

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Of course there are still teams looking for starting pitching. The Yankees have expressed a desire to possibly add another starter. Considering how much they have spent this off season, a little more money spent for them is definitely not an issue.

The Toronto Blue Jays are absolutely still looking. Yoon had also been reportedly linked to the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers so if he accepts Baltimore’s offer than does leave options for Santana, Jimenez and Arroyo.

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