Masahiro Tanaka returns to Japan after 7 seasons with the New York Yankees

by

After seven years with the New York Yankees, free-agent right-hander Masahiro Tanaka announced on Thursday that he will return to Japan to pitch for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in the Nippon Professional Baseball League.

“I have decided to return to Japan and play for the Rakuten Eagles for the 2021 season,” said Tanaka wrote on Twitter. “I wanted to make sure and get in touch with you, and I want to thank you for all the love and support you have given me over the past 7 seasons.

“I feel extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to take the field as a member of the New York Yankees and play for you passionate fans. It was an honor and a privilege! Thank you so much !!”

The 32-year-old, coming off a season where he missed some time after being hit in the head by teammate Giancarlo Stanton during live batting practice, has just closed a seven-year deal worth $ 155 million.

A two-time All-Star roster, Tanaka spent all seven of his MLB seasons as a Yankees starter from 2014 to 2020 and was one of the most consistent starting pitchers in the majors during that period, with 78-46 in 173 starts .

He set a 3-3 record with a 3.56 ERA – down from 4.45 in 2019 – in 10 starts during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Tanaka was found to have a partially torn ligament in his throwing elbow during the 2014 season, and from then on the Yankees sometimes tried to give him extra rest between starts. He earned a base salary of $ 22 million in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons and $ 23 million in 2020.

He pitched well in the playoffs during his time in the Bronx, going 5-4 with a 4.18 ERA, 44 strikeouts and 15 walks in 10 starts and 54 innings. He had his best postseason run in 2017, going 2-1 with a 0.90 ERA, striking out 18 and walking three in 20 innings in the division series against Cleveland and the American League Championship Series against Houston.

Before joining the Yankees, Tanaka was 99-35 with a 2.30 ERA in seven seasons with the Rakuten Golden Eagles, striking out 1,238 in 1,315 innings.

.Source