Masahiro Tanaka, the Ace pitcher from Japan who doubles as the most prized free agent pitcher left on the market, has reportedly agreed on a deal with the New York Yankees. The pact, first reported by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and confirmed by Buster Olney at ESPN, includes an opt out after year 4 that would allow Tanaka to be a free agent again at age 30. Should Tanaka opt to see his deal through completion, the Yankees will be on the hook for seven years, and 155 Million guaranteed dollars. $155 Million represents the 5th largest commitment ever given to a pitcher, behind Clayton Kershaw’s recent 7-$210, Justin Verlander’s 7-$180, Felix Hernandez’s 7-$175, and CC Sabathia’s 8-$160. For a pitcher who has yet to pitch in the Major Leagues, that is quite the commitment. Still, at just 25 years of age, Masahiro Tanaka is a surer bet than some to provide the value that the Yankees will be expecting from him.
The Yankees have been posturing for some time now that they intended to get under $189 Million in payroll for the 2014 season for the potential luxury tax benefits. While it remains unclear whether this deal will blow up that pipe dream, the Yankees certainly had extra room in the budget following the Alex Rodriguez suspension decision announced last week. The math for the Yankees is certainly up for debate, but I imagine they will squeak under the $189 Million threshold thanks to their thrifty shopping this winter at second and third base.
The need for a top of the line starting pitcher in the Bronx was obvious. CC Sabathia is coming off of a season in which he lead the AL in earned runs allowed. That’s the wrong kind of ERA. He notched his worst career totals in losses, ERA, and WHIP. It was the first time he was a worse than league average pitcher according to ERA+, and he did it all while earning $23 Million. There’s reportedly a much leaner and muscular CC Sabathia set to enter Spring Training in a few weeks, but I’m among the skeptics about just how much the 33 year old power pitcher can bring to the table. Hiroki Kuroda signed on the dotted line to hopefully provide the Yankees with much needed support. For a team that lost Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes from a rotation that ranked 7th in the AL in ERA, help was sorely needed. Masahiro Tanaka will help. He should slot in nicely somewhere between Sabathia, Kuroda, and Ivan Nova as he figures out the Major Leagues.
The Yankees success this year could lie in what their fifth starter provides. Michael Pineda once looked like a dominant force, but since joining the Yankees, has found his right shoulder uncooperative. If Pineda is healthy and can recapture some of his 2011 explosiveness, he could be a steal in the 5th slot. If Tanaka can provide something similar to what Yu Darvish did in his first season in the American Leagues (3.9 bWAR), and CC Sabathia rediscovers his Cy Young form, the Yankees could have a scary good rotation. Still, those are three big ifs and we did not mention Hiroki Kuroda’s birthday (February 10, 1975) yet.
As if the rotation question marks aren’t enough, the lineup will have question marks across the infield. Mark Teixeira is recovering from wrist issues. Wrist issues for power hitters are fairly analogous to shoulder issues to power pitchers. Nobody is confident in Teixeira’s health going forward. Second base figures to be some combination of Kelly Johnson and Brian Roberts. (Oy.) Shortstop features a 39 year old Derek Jeter who who hit .190 last year in a fraction of a season. And third base is still a too unknown to even conjecture about. (Conjecture: some horrid combo of Kelly Johnson and Eduardo Nunez.)
The Tanaka signing certainly gives manager Joe Girardi significantly more talent to in the rotation, but there is still a lot that has to go right. With so many unknowns in the starting staff, holes in the infield, question marks in the bullpen, and heavy contracts in the outfield, sports radio and the New York press should have a fun year. We’re still a long way from crowning anyone World Series Champions, but I think that the Yankees could once again find themselves in the discussion.
-Sean Morash
