We’ve reached the “Masahiro Tanaka’s wife wants to be on the west coast” point of this silliness

By Craig CalcaterraJan 13, 2014, 11:43 AM EDT
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We get to this point every offseason. Some big free agent is still out there and we hear that they like the west coast. Or the east coast. Or their wife does. Or they want to be where they grew up. Or they want to be where they can fly home to wherever they call home quicker. Or they like spring in Florida as opposed to Arizona or vice-versa.  So it is with Masahiro Tanaka:

 

My wife wanted to be in Ohio when I graduated law school, so to Ohio we went. Nearly sixteen years later I’m still here. And I’m not married anymore. Maybe I shoulda just followed the money?

I bet that’s what Tanaka does.

Rays acquire Wilmer Font from Athletics

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By Ashley VarelaMay 25, 2018, 7:02 PM EDT
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In a less-notable move on Friday, the Rays acquired right-hander Wilmer Font from the Athletics in exchange for minor league right-hander Peter Bayer. Font was designated for assignment by the A’s on Wednesday.

This is the second trade involving the righty since the start of the season. The Athletics acquired 28-year-old Font from the Dodgers in late April, but were underwhelmed by his performance after he racked up 11 runs, five home runs, four walks and nine strikeouts in his first 6 2/3 innings of relief. While the rookie has yet to prove himself at the big league level, he posted a much more respectable pitching line with the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate in 2017, going 10-8 in 25 starts with a 3.42 ERA, 2.3 BB/9 and 11.9 SO/9 in 134 1/3 innings. It’s still unclear whether the Rays intend to give him another opportunity in the majors this year or use him as depth in the minors.

Bayer, 24, is still a ways away from cracking any major league roster. He advanced to High-A Charlotte prior to the trade and allowed eight runs, two homers, six walks and six strikeouts in his first four innings.