When the notification came across my phone, I stared at it for a few seconds in frustration.
After seven years with the New York Yankees, Masahiro Tanaka announced he’s retuning to Japan.
No more Tanaka Time, at least not in the Yankee pinstripes.
He’s heading home to pitch for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in the Nippon Professional Baseball League, the team he spent the first seven seasons of his professional career with.
The 32-year old right hander didn’t win a World Series while in the Bronx. He didn’t meet the lofty expectations which came with the seven-year, $155 million deal the Yankees signed him to.
But when they handed him the ball every fifth day, he was ready. Consistency was Tanaka. You knew he was going to compete and give the Yankees the best chance to win a ballgame. He brought reliability to a starting rotation which resembled a revolving door during his seven years in pinstripes.
A two-time All-Star selection, a mostly reliable postseason pitcher, and tough as nails. Tanaka, with a partially torn ligament in his pitching arm, became an All-Star.
A two-time All-Star selection, a mostly reliable postseason pitcher, and tough as nails. Tanaka, with a partially torn ligament in his pitching arm, became an All-Star.
This winter’s volatile free agency market more than likely fueled his decision to return home. The Yankees added Corey Kluber on a one-year deal. They then traded prospects to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jameson Taillon.
A look at the money Kluber ($11 million) and Taillon ($2.25 million) will be paid indicates the Yankees getting two starting pitchers for the price of one.
That’s the business of sports, the cruel side, the emotional roller coaster. Tanaka still has more baseball in him, it was just time to move on.
I stared at my phone, reading the notification, and feeling frustrated. Not because Tanaka is my favorite baseball player, and not because he’s my favorite Yankee. That spot’s reserved for Derek Jeter.
The type of Yankee that just goes about his business on the field, competing, team-first. Tanaka would’ve fit in nicely with those Jeter-led championship teams. It would’ve been nice watching him walk off the field at Yankee Stadium to a standing ovation.
It’s too bad Tanaka didn’t get to return home a World Series champion.
He will, however, get to return to a hero’s welcome.
Christian Petersen | Credit: Getty Images
