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

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

“I have decided to go back to Japan and play for the Rakuten Eagles for the 2021 season,” Tanaka wrote on Twitter. “I wanted to be sure and have contact with you, and thank you for all the love and support you have given me over the past 7 seasons.”

“I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to play on the field as a member of the New York Yankees, and to play in front of all your passionate fans. It has been an honor and a privilege! Thank you very much !!”

The 32-year-old, who has just completed a season in which he missed time after being hit in the head by the shot from teammate Giancarlo Stanton during live batting practice, has just completed the final year of a seven-year, $ 155 million contract.

A two-time all-star selected, the right-hander spent his seven MLB seasons as a Yankees starter from 2014 to 2020 and was one of the majors’ most consistent starting pitchers during that span, ranging from 78 to 46 in 173 starts.

Tanaka posted a record 3-3 with an ERA of 3.56 – up from 4.45 in 2019 – in 10 starts during the shortened pandemic season of 2020.

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

Tanaka started 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 in 54 innings. He had his best playoff run in 2017 when he went 2-1 with a 0.90 ERA, 18 strikeouts and three marches in 20 innings during the Divisional Series against Cleveland and American League Championship Series. against Houston.

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



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