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, right-handed agent Masahiro Tanaka announced Thursday that he will return to Japan to pitch for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in the Nippon Professional Baseball League.

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

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

Tanaka, 32, comes from a season in which he wasted some time after being hit in the head by a shot from teammate Giancarlo Stanton during a live beating practice, just completed a seven-year contract and $ 155 million.

Selected twice in the All-Star Game, Tanaka spent his seven seasons in MLB as the Yankees opener from 2014 to 2020 and was one of the most consistent opening pitchers in the Majors in that span, scoring 78-46 in 173 openings.

It hit a 3-3 record with an effectiveness of 3.56, compared to 4.45 in 2019, in 10 openings during the 2020 season shortened by the pandemic.

It was discovered that Tanaka had a partially torn ligament in his throwing elbow during the 2014 season and from then on, the Yankees tried to give him an extra break between openings at times. He earned a base salary of $ 22 million in the 2018 and 2019 seasons and $ 23 million in 2020.

He pitched well in the playoffs during his stay in the Bronx, scoring 5-4 with an effectiveness of 4.18, 44 strikeouts and 15 bases per ball in 10 openings and 54 innings. He had his best postseason career in 2017, when he had a 2-1 record with an effectiveness of 0.90, 18 strikeouts and 3 bases per ball in 20 innings during the divisional series against Cleveland and the American League Championship Series against Houston.

Before joining the Yankees, Tanaka had a 99-35 record with a 2.30 ERA in seven seasons with the Rakuten Golden Eagles, beating 1,238 rivals in 1,315 innings.

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