Yankees News: Masahiro Tanaka ‘Feeling Good’

Our friend Brendan Kuty over at NJ.com reported yesterday that New York Yankees‘ ace Masahiro Tanaka recently spoke with a reporter from the Japan Times and discussed his progress on his partially-torn UCL that he suffered during his rookie campaign in 2014. According to Kuty, Tanaka recently worked out with his former Japanese team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles, and reported no pain at the end of the session. 

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Last winter, the Yankees blew away the competition, and signed Tanaka to a seven-year, $155 million dollar contract. Tanaka came better than advertised, and dominated big league hitters until he suffered the elbow injury. He came back in September to mixed reviews after missing most of the summer with the injury, after having been named to the American League All-Star team as a rookie.

For the Yankees to be successful in 2015, he along with several other members of the starting rotation are going to have to remain healthy and avoid the injury-bug that has haunted this team for the past two years. Along with Tanaka, Ivan Nova (Tommy John surgery), C.C. Sabathia (knee surgery), Michael Pineda (shoulder issues), all missed a large chunk of 2014, while fill-ins and retreads brought the Yankees to the brink of the postseason, but a continuing lack of offensive support ended October dreams.

If the foursome can return and each make 25 or more starts, along with recently-acquired Nathan Eovaldi from the Miami Marlins, the Yankees could compete in the slumping AL East, as no team’s starting rotation is considered stand-out heading into the spring.

Next: Can The Yankees Contend In 2015?

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