Yankees: Masahiro Tanaka reportedly mulling two options in free agency

We don’t know what the future holds for Masahiro Tanaka, but a return to the Yankees is high on his list.

At the moment, New York Yankees fans aren’t too happy that the team seemingly plans to enter the 2021 season with a starting rotation of Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery, Domingo German, Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt as they wait for Luis Severino to return later in the summer.

Perhaps the front office doesn’t realize how important Masahiro Tanaka‘s contributions to the franchise have been over the last seven years. While he’s been shaky at times, he’s lived up to expectations, continually delivering for the Bombers in the postseason (with the exception of 2020) and logging a respectable 3.74 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 174 games.

The good news? According to the latest buzz, Tanaka doesn’t entirely have any interest in playing for another MLB team, especially one that won’t be a contender. If he’s willing to take less money, it sure sounds like he could be back with the Yankees in 2021. Either that, or he’ll be heading back home.

“There’s a good chance that Tanaka will either re-sign with the Yankees or play in Japan next season for his old Pacific League team, a source close to the pitcher told NJ Advance Media,” writes NJ.com’s Randy Miller. “The source, who didn’t want his name made public, added that Tanaka wants to return to the Yankees and isn’t interested in playing for a team that won’t contend next season, regardless of money. The source added that it’s unlikely Tanaka will sign with the Angels, who already have fellow Japanese star Shohei Ohtani, a pitcher/designated hitter. Also, the source stated Tanaka has had plans for years to end his playing career with the Rakuten Golden Eagles, his club from 2007-13.”

For anyone out there fearing we might see Tanaka pitching for the Los Angeles Angels next season, you can relax. It’s either the Yankees or the Rakuten Golden Eagles, according to this latest report. The sad part here, however, is if Tanaka does return to Japan, that likely signals the end of his MLB career.

We don’t know if we’ll be able to handle that. If it does happen, we at least better get constant social media updates of the veteran looking extremely weird in Santa suits for Christmases to come.

Yankees fans had always assumed this would be Tanaka’s fate this offseason and now we have some sort of a confirmation. At the very least, fans can take solace in the fact that he likely won’t be pitching in another MLB uniform if he does leave the Yankees.

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