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 EST
45 Comments

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.

Report: Astros, Michael Brantley agree to two-year, $32 million contract

Jason Miller/Getty Images
By Bill BaerDec 17, 2018, 6:58 PM EST
9 Comments

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Astros and outfielder Michael Brantley are closing in on an agreement for a two-year contract in the $32 million range.

Brantley, 31, played a mostly full season last year for the first time since 2015. He hit .309/.364/.468 with 17 home runs, 76 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 631 plate appearances. He made the AL All-Star squad for the third time in his career.

Brantley’s health, though, is why he had to settle for a two-year deal as opposed to a longer contract for a player of his caliber. He will take over in left field. In the event Brantley succumbs to injury woes, the Astros have top prospect Kyle Tucker waiting in the wings.

Update: According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, who also reports that the deal is in place, the Astros plan to rotate Brantley between left field, first base, and DH. That opens up some more playing time for Tucker.