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

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After seven years with the New York Yankees, free agent Masahiro Tanaka’s right-hand man announced on Thursday that he will return to Japan to play 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,” Tanaka wrote on Twitter. “I wanted to make sure and reach the base with you and thank you for all the love and support you have given me in the last 7 seasons.”

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

The 32-year-old, who came out of a season in which he missed some time after being hit in the head by the shooting of his teammate Giancarlo Stanton during live fighting practice, has just completed the last year of a 155-year deal. millions of dollars, for seven years.

A two-star All-Star selection, the right spent all seven MLB seasons as a Yankees starter from 2014 to 2020 and was one of the most consistent starting players in the majors of that period, reaching 78-46 in 173 you start.

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

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

Tanaka played well in the playoffs during his time in the Bronx, going 5-4 with an ERA of 4.18, 44 goals and 15 walks in 10 starts in 54 innings. He had his best postseason in 2017, when he won 2-1 with 0.90 ERA, 18 hits and three walks in 20 innings during 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, eliminating 1,238 in 1315 innings.

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