Yankees: Masahiro Tanaka is the most important pitcher on the starting staff

Luis Severino is widely considered the ace of the Yankees starting staff and he deserves that title based on his performance over the last two seasons. However, don’t sleep on Masahiro Tanaka. He might not have Sevy’s upside but he’s just as important to this Yankee team because when he’s on his game he can still be as dominant as any pitcher in baseball.

Since signing a 7-year, $155M deal with the Yankees back in 2014 Tanaka has had some ups and downs but for the most part, he’s been worth every penny. His name might not come to mind when you think of the elite starting pitchers in the game today, but over the past five years, he’s been as reliable as anyone.

Tanaka burst onto the scene during his rookie campaign and was arguably the best starter in baseball during the first half of that season. People forget that probably because just days before he was set to pitch in the first All-Star game he suffered a partial UCL tear on July 8th which sidelined him for the majority of the second half.

Even though Tanaka was able to return to make two starts in September many believed that his elbow wouldn’t hold up and he was destined for Tommy John surgery. He had to go on the DL due to forearm soreness in 2015 and shoulder inflammation back in 2017, but fortunately for Tanaka and the Yankees, he’s been able to pitch with the tear and remain a very effective pitcher. That’s a pretty remarkable achievement considering how prevalent elbow injuries are in today’s game.

Today Yankees pitchers and catchers will report to Tampa for Spring Training and Tanaka is reportedly feeling better than usual heading into this year’s camp. According to Randy Miller of NJ.com, he says he is ahead of schedule thanks to a change in his usual offseason routine, training back home in his native Japan.

"“I was able to work out somewhere that was a little bit warmer, so I feel like my throwing program is a little bit ahead of where it was last year,” said Tanaka through his interpreter."

That’s great news for the Yankees because a healthy and productive Tanaka should go a long way in helping this team reach their goal of winning the division title. Right now Tanaka probably projects to be the number three starter in the rotation but personally, I think he’s the most important pitcher on the staff.

Last season Tanaka had another solid year going 12-6 with a 3.75 ERA in 27 starts with 159 K’s and a 1.12 WHIP. As long as he stays healthy those are the types of numbers we should continue to expect from Tanaka but that doesn’t explain why he’s the real X-Factor in this Yankee rotation. As I said last season was another solid one for Tanaka but he missed about a month after he strained both of his hamstrings running the bases during interleague play against the Mets.

If he can avoid any DL stints this season Tanaka can put up ace-like numbers and be the front of the rotation force the Yankees need this season to pair alongside Severino. New acquisition James Paxton could also be that guy but his injury history is a concern and unlike Sevy and Tanaka he’s never been able to put it all together over the course of a full season.

The main reason why I’d say Tanaka has lived up to expectations since coming to New York and why he’s the key to the staff is he’s proven to be extremely clutch and has thrived on the October stage. In 2017, after Tanaka had his worst statistical regular season he stepped up big time in the playoffs to help the Yanks make it all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS. He went 2-1 with a 0.90 ERA in 20 IP in three combined starts against an Indians team that set the Major League record for consecutive wins and the eventual World Champion Houston Astros.

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Last season when the Yankees were eliminated in the ALDS by the Red Sox Tanaka pitched in New York’s only win of the series, going 5 strong innings allowing only one run in Game 2 at Fenway Park. In his postseason career, Tanaka has a 1.50 ERA and has never allowed more than two runs in any of his 5 playoff starts.

Even though during the regular season Tanaka will go through small stretches where he has some bad starts and gives up a lot of home runs, he always bounces back and fixes his mistakes. That’s because nobody is more prepared than him and that’s why I’d rather have him on the mound in a big game more than anyone else on the staff.

Tanaka now enters year six in pinstripes and at only 30 years old he’s still very much in the prime of his career. As underrated as he is he’s accomplished a lot since coming over to the states, but there’s one thing left for him to do and that’s winning a championship.

If this Yankee team has any chance of winning it all this year Tanaka is going to have to lead the way and there’s no doubt in my mind he’s capable of doing just that. I already said he was worth all the money he’s made, but if he can help bring home #28, he’ll forever etch his name in Yankees lore and go down as one of the greatest free agent signings in franchise history.