As part of their major revamp, New York Yankees signed Japanese free-agent Masahiro Tanaka on Wednesday.
Photo credit: thesportsquotient.com
The 25-year old starter agreed with a seven-year, $155 million contract with the Yankees, which includes an opt-out clause after the fourth year.
“We’re going to do what we’ve got to do to win,” Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenneras told the Associated Press.
The right-handed Tanaka is a big addition for the Yankees who have had struggles with their pitching staff.
With this deal, Tanaka got the largest contract ever for an international free agent and fifth-largest for a pitcher.
Other teams who bid for his services are Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Since 2007, Tanaka was 99-35 with a 2.30 ERA and 1,238 strikeouts in 175 games playing for Rakuten Eagles.
Though a free-agent, the Yankees still paid for Tanaka’s Japanese team with $20 million posting fee under the new system.