REPORT: Cubs are ‘in’ on Japan’s Masahiro Tanaka

March 17, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Japanese fans before the World Baseball Classic semifinal against the Puerto Rico at AT

According to Bruce Levine of WSCR, the Cubs are “in” on Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka.

The recent posting system could be approved later this week, with the following details emerging, courtesy of an ESPN report.

"Under the new system, the maximum amount MLB teams can bid for a Japanese player will be $20 million. If more than one team submits a $20 million bid, the player can negotiate a contract with any of them."

This is good news for the Cubs, given prior details that had leaked described a system that would have prioritized the worst teams in the league, meaning Chicago would have had the fourth crack at Tanaka, behind Miami, Houston and the Chicago White Sox.

Tanaka is widely believed to be the best available pitcher on the market, but his team has not yet agreed that he will be posted. Should he come to the United States, he will likely draw interest from virtually every team, with the front-runners expected to be the New York Yankees.

Chicago is also expected to meet with right-hander Jeff Samardzija‘s camp later today discussing his future with the organization. He pitched over 200 innings last year, notching 214 punch outs as the Cubs’ ace.