Report: Yankees will let Masahiro Tanaka leave if he opts out of contract

If Masahiro Tanaka chooses to opt out of his deal with the Yankees, then it may be a guarantee he ends up in a new uniform.

In 2014, Masahiro Tanaka signed with the New York Yankees and was seen as a long-term member of their starting rotation. He broke in during that same year, looking like the dominant pitcher he had been hyped to be. This saw a 2.77 ERA through 20 starts, striking out over a batter per inning.

However, injuries quickly stacked up for Tanaka. He dealt with arm injuries in 2014 and 2015, before returning in 2016 with diminished results.

Well, it seems the Yankees may choose to step away from their Japanese star after the 2017 season. According to Mike Mazzeo of the New York Daily News, if Tanaka opts out of his contract this fall, the Bronx Bombers will let him walk. The organization is “annoyed” with Casey Close — Tanaka’s agent — for “holding the threat of a potential opt-out over their heads.”

There comes a point where a player is worth the off-the-field situation he or she brings along, which is where the Yankees are seemingly at with Tanaka. Along with that, he may want more than the $22 million per year he’s receiving as part of the seven-year deal signed, and for another contract over half-a-dozen seasons.

Tanaka’s 2017 campaign had a rough start. He threw just 2.2 innings, allowing eight hits, seven earned runs and two home runs against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 28-year-old’s next scheduled start will be on Saturday, against the Baltimore Orioles.

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We’ll see what comes of Tanaka’s status in the coming days, weeks and months. He could always have a dominant, Cy Young-esque season, leading to the Yankees biting the bullet and keeping him around for a handful of more years — if he opts out. If not, then we may be seeing Tanaka near the top of someone else’s rotation on Opening Day 2018.