After seven years with the New York Yankees, free agent Masahiro Tanaka 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 be sure and touch the base 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 had 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 so much !!”
WELCOME HOME our HERO !!!! https: //t.co/2WoFI9XjKJ#RakutenEagles # お か え り な さ い い pic.twitter.com/2DNlgJYORy
– @Rakuten__Eagles) – R 楽 天 ゴ 東北 ル デ ン イ ー グ 28 January 2021
The 32-year-old comes from a season in which he missed a time after being hit in the head by teammate Giancarlo Stanton during a live batting practice, and has the final year of a $ 155 seven-year deal million completed.
A two-time All-Star pick, the right-hander spent all seven of his MLB seasons as a starter for the Yankees from 2014 to 2020 and was one of the most consistent starting crowns in the majors during that team, with 78- 46 in 173 begin.
Tanaka posted a 3-3 record with an ERA of 3.56 – lower than 4.45 in 2019 – in ten starts during the 2020 pandemic shortened season.
Tanaka was found to have a partially torn ligament in his stocking elbow during the 2014 season, and from then on, the Yankees sometimes try to give him extra rest between starts. He earned a base salary of $ 22 million in the 2018 and 2019 seasons and $ 23 million in 2020.
Tanaka hit well in the playoffs during the time in the Bronx, going 5-4 with an ERA of 4.18, 44 strokes and 15 runs in 10 starts over 54 overs. He achieved his best post-season in 2017 when he went 2-1 up with a 0.90 ERA, 18 strikeouts and three runs in 20 overs during the division series against Cleveland and the American League Championship Series versus Houston.
Before joining the Yankees, Tanaka was 99-35 with a 2.30 era in seven seasons with the Rakuten Golden Eagles scoring 1,238 in 1,315 overs.