REPORT: Chicago Cubs, White Sox still in on Masahiro Tanaka

Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Ken Rosenthal of FOX is reporting that both the Cubs and the White Sox remain in the hunt for Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka and that the North Siders are “pushing hard” for Tanaka.

In addition to the two Chicago teams, Rosenthal also reports that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are also still pursuing the 25-year-old right-hander, in addition to the two purported front-runners – the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Cubs have been incredibly quiet this offseason, leading to mounting frustrations among fans in Chicago. The team lacks a true #1 or #2 starter, with Jeff Samardzija currently filling the role of ‘ace’ on the pitching staff, followed by a combo of Travis Wood, who posted career-best numbers in 2013, and Edwin Jackson, who lost 18 games last season – his first of a four-year, $52 million contract.

It was reported earlier this week that Tanaka’s wife prefers the West Coast, something that could prove to be a factor in his decision-making process. Although the Cubs are still in on his services, it still appears that the Dodgers and Yankees are the most likely destinations, although some question whether or not LA will pursue him further after signing left-hander Clayton Kershaw to a seven-year, $215 million extension yesterday.