Masahiro Tanaka Fantasy Stats

Free-agent starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka signed a one-year contract with the Rakuten Golden Eagles on Thursday after his market failed to materialize in the ice-cold MLB offseason. Tanaka enjoyed a successful seven-year stint with the Yankees, leaving the team with a solid 3.74 ERA and several strong playoff performances. With COVID-19 hopefully a non-issue in 2022, it wouldn't be shocking to see Tanaka return to the MLB after his deal in Japan, although the 32-year-old is most likely to either stay in Japan or pitch for the Yankees again given his reported preferences. With Tanaka now overseas, he can be ignored in redraft formats for the 2021 fantasy baseball season.

Free-agent starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka is reportedly advancing negotiations to return to Japan and play for his original team, the Rakuten Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball. Tanaka could receive a formal offer from the Eagles this week. The Yankees additions of Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon in the last 10 days has made it unlikely that they'd re-sign the right-hander. The 32-year-old played in Japan from 2007-13 and signed a seven-year, $155 million deal with New York before the 2014 season. He went 78-46 with a 3.74 ERA in 173 starts, including going 5-4 with a 3.33 ERA in 10 playoff starts for the Bombers. His 2020 season was delayed due to a concussion, but he went 3-3 with a 3.56 ERA in 10 starts and would've been a solid fantasy arm had he stayed in the States. It's not official yet, but it looks like fantasy managers will be crossing Tanaka off their cheat sheets in 2021.

With the New York Yankees signing right-hander Corey Kluber to a one-year, $11 million deal on Friday, it could shut the door on the team re-signing starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Luis Severino (elbow) is due back from Tommy John surgery in 2021 at some point, Domingo German will return from a suspension and the club has young arms in Deivi Garcia, Michael King and Clarke Schmidt ready for more opportunities. Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery and Kluber should fill the top three rotation spots. The Yankees are also re-signing second baseman DJ LeMahieu, with his and Kluber's contracts putting the Yanks around $10 million away from the first competitive balance tax threshold of $210 million. If Tanaka's market outside of New York isn't very robust, there's a chance that he could return to Japan. He had a decent 3.56 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with a 22.3 percent strikeout rate and a 4.1 percent walk rate in 48 innings in 2020.

The San Diego Padres are doing background work on free-agent starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka and other free agents, even after swinging big trades for starters Blake Snell and Yu Darvish this offseason. Tanaka stands out because of his connection to Darvish and pitching coach Larry Rothschild. Darvish is friends with Tanaka, and Rothschild was his pitching coach for most of his time with the Yankees. Tanaka went 75-43 with a 3.75 ERA and averaged 27 starts, 168 innings and 158 strikeouts per season from 2014-19 with Rothschild as his pitching coach. San Diego might be looking for another starter due to lingering concerns over the health of Dinelson Lamet, who couldn't pitch in the playoffs due to biceps tendinitis. Tanaka had a 12.38 ERA and 2.13 WHIP in the postseason, but his long-ball issues could be mitigated by a move to Petco Park.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka struggled against the Rays on Wednesday, allowing five runs over only four innings of work. Tanakas slider was the lone bright spot in an otherwise lackluster performance as the pitch generated seven swinging-strikes (28 pitches) for a 25% swinging-strike rate, but Tanaka also left a slider hanging over the plate that Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena hit into the seats. Its only one start and the Rays hitters have terrorized New York pitching with 18 runs in their last three games, so Tanakas poor start shouldnt have fantasy managers too concerned regarding his performance going forward.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka allowed six runs over only four innings against the Indians on Wednesday. Tanakas final line was inflated by relief pitcher Chad Green allowing a pair of inherited runners to score, and Tanaka probably wasnt helped by a 33-minute mid-game rain delay, but Wednesdays performance was forgettable as he generated only six whiffs (7.8% swinging-strike rate) and allowed six hard-hit balls (43% hard-hit rate). Wednesday was Tanakas second consecutive start with at least five runs allowed, but theres little to be concerned about from an arsenal perspective for Tanaka, and fantasy managers should expect the 31-year-old to bounce back in his next start.

New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will make his fourth career start at Progressive Field on Wednesday during Game 2 of the clubs wild-card series versus Cleveland. While Tuesdays result dictates if the Yankees season will be on the line, Tanaka will be eyeing his first win in Cleveland for his career, having posted a 5.06 ERA in three regular-season starts. The last time that the two sides faced off in the postseason, Tanaka tossed seven scoreless frames at Yankee Stadium in the 2017 ALDS. Set to become a free agent at seasons end, the start could also serve as Tanakas final one as a member of the Yankees. He has upside DFS appeal against a streaky Cleveland offensive unit.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka allowed five runs (three earned) over four innings against the Blue Jays on Wednesday. The New York defense committed three errors behind Tanaka on Wednesday, making the 31-year-olds start more difficult than it should have been. Tanakas performance under the hood was solid with a 14% swinging-strike rate (nine swinging-strikes on his slider) and five hard-hit balls allowed, and he finishes the regular season with a 3.56 ERA. Tanaka probably wont pitch again until the playoffs where hes likely to draw a tough matchup against either the Twins or the White Sox, but he should still be a serviceable fantasy starter going forward.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka held the Blue Jays to three runs over seven innings on Thursday, striking out five with zero walks. Thursday marked the first time all season that Tanaka lasted more than five innings in a start, and his pitch count topped 90 for his third consecutive game after he averaged 67 pitches per start over his first six starts this year. Tanakas next start will likely come against the same Blue Jays team in Buffalo, where his home run problem (3.7% career home-run rate, over 4% this season) should be exacerbated.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka held the Orioles to one run over five innings with five strikeouts and no walks on Friday. A home run off the bat of DJ Steward was the only blemish on Tanakas otherwise stellar performance, as he allowed only one hard-hit ball (the home run) and generated a strong 16% swinging-strike rate for the game. Fridays performance brought Tanakas ERA down to 3.16, and fantasy manager should expect the 31-year-old to post an ERA below 3.50 for the rest of the season.