When Brian Cashman and seven other Yankees delegates met with Masahiro Tanaka in January 2014, the contingent had to not only make a strong impression, but a quick one.

With Tanaka eager to get back to his native Japan so as to not disrupt his training, his representatives ushered teams in and out of a private residence in Beverly Hills over the course of two days. Only a few hours were allotted to the Yankees as they tried to court the coveted right-hander.

That sales pitch included lots of conversation, an MTV Cribs-style video of Yankee Stadium’s amenities, and a clip of Hideki Matsui — the greatest Japanese player in Yankees history — speaking directly to Tanaka. The recruiting effort ultimately resulted in Tanaka signing a seven-year, $155 million contract with the Bombers .

The

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