3 former Yankees who could return to the Bronx this offseason

Japan's starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka hurls the ball during the second inning of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games baseball round 2 game between USA and Japan at Yokohama Baseball Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by KAZUHIRO FUJIHARA / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO FUJIHARA/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Yankees offseason rumors, Masahiro Tanaka

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 17: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Masahiro Tanaka #19 of the New York Yankees in action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 17, 2020 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 10-7. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

1. Masahiro Tanaka

Tanaka’s move to Japan may have caused some Yankees fans to forget about the reliable starting pitcher, but a return to the United States remains a possibility for the wily veteran. If Tanaka does return stateside, it would be a major surprise to see him don any jersey other than pinstripes.

That doesn’t mean Tanaka re-signing with the Yankees this offseason a likely proposition, but it could give the team’s rotation a significant booth. The team still sports a lot of question marks behind ace Gerrit Cole. Adding Tanaka to the mix would give Boone and his coaching staff a guy they can comfortably trust to be the fourth or fifth starter for one more season.

The problem with re-signing Tanaka is that he’ll only return to the team on a big contract. It would likely represent an overpay compared to the number of innings he can pitch at this stage of his career. Trusting him to be a postseason starter would also be a poor gamble for the Yankees.

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Instead, thinking of Tanaka as a guy who can help raise the floor of the starting rotation during the regular season is the right philosophy for New York. He certainly has the moxie and guts required to thrive under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium.

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