Waiting for the Redsocks to strike in the Tanaka sweepstakes

Yesterday, we learned the Cubs have leaped into the Masahiro Tanaka bidding war - this, after days of "news" reports claiming the action had boiled down to the Yankees v. Dodgers. Obviously, those reports were crapola. Let's face it, nobody - not Joel Sherman, not Pope Gammons, not even Randy Levine - has a track on what Tanaka wants in his next baseball team.

But if it's a ring next year... well... the team most likely to supply it happens to also have $100 million lying around - the Jacoby Ellsbury Farewell Fund - and these days, they're acting awfully damn quiet. "Too quiet," as Ward Bond would say, sitting around the Wagon Train camp fire.

If you were the Boston GM, and you wanted to turn one World Championship into three or four - a "dynasty," they call it - here's your ticket. If the Redsocks ante up - say- $120 million over six years, they can also guarantee him the 2014 Post Season, the loony loyal fan base, friendly toadies in the ESPN and FOX booths, and - if he's of the mind - a safe and secure PED-supplying network, (which the Yankees clearly cannot offer.)

Boston is a position to put the Yankees in its rearview mirror for the next three years.  Don't think they are unaware of this. Don't get comfy over news stories that are based in ether, or anything that suggests the Redsocks will sit this out.

Be afraid, Yankiverse. Be very afraid.