Masahiro Tanaka hasn’t put on a Yankees uniform yet, but it sounds as if he understands the expectations of pitching in The Bronx.
Asked Thursday in Tokyo what his goal was in joining the Yankees, the right-hander said: “To become world champions.”
Tanaka, who signed a seven-year, $155 million deal with the Yankees on Wednesday, was the most sought-after arm on the free-agent market this winter. The Yankees blew by their stated goal of staying under the $189 million luxury-tax threshold in order to outbid the Dodgers and Cubs, among others, to get Tanaka. They also have to pay a $20 million posting fee to Tanaka’s former team, Rakuten.
The 25-year-old said he was “relieved” to get the contract and said of signing with the Yankees: “They gave me the highest evaluation and are a world-famous team.”
Asked to deliver a message to fans in English, Tanaka said: “I don’t speak English, so I’ll just have to win the trust and confidence of the fans with my performance on the field.”
That’s something to which pitching coach Larry Rothschild is looking forward.
“I’m not sure I can watch any more tape,” Rothschild said by phone from Tampa. “We’ve done all our due diligence, now all that’s left is to see it in person.”
Rothschild, who was part of the Yankees’ eight-person contingent that visited Tanaka and agent Casey Close in Los Angeles this month, added Tanaka is about more than just a dominant splitter.
“He’s got four good pitches, including a curve,” said Rothschild, who also raved about Tanaka’s mentality and willingness to throw 160 pitches during the Japan Series last season. “I’d much rather have that than to have to kick him in the rear.”
Rothschild believes that work ethic will allow Tanaka to adjust to the majors faster — which the coach also thinks won’t be a huge issue.
“That’s a little misleading,” Rothschild said. “He’s pitched in so many pressure situations over there and in front of huge crowds. He’ll be ahead of a lot of other guys who have come over.”
Rothschild also liked the fact Tanaka often threw his side sessions with a major league baseball, which is different than the one used in Japan.
“You know he’s been preparing for this for a while and his approach is pretty tenacious,” Rothschild said. “That’s a good thing. He’s still going to have to get used to pitching every fifth day and the mounds and hitters, but you could tell from meeting him, he has an idea of what he wants to do.”
Tanaka said he consulted with other Japanese players such as Yu Darvish and Takashi Saito who have made the transition to the majors.
“Everything will be new and challenging,” Tanaka said. “But I have to rely on my ability that got me this far.”
That ability helped him go 24-0 last season for Rakuten, which set off an unprecedented bidding war for a pitcher who has never appeared in the majors.
The Chicago Tribune reported the Cubs “weren’t that close” to landing Tanaka, offering less than $150 million, and the Los Angeles Times reported the Dodgers were “not anywhere close” to the Yankees’ offer and the team did not see Tanaka as a potential ace.
Despite those reservations, Rothschild said he’s among those who believe Tanaka will make an immediate impact.
“He gives us another arm — which we needed — and it’s a high-level arm,” Rothschild said. “He’s coming here with a lot of fanfare. He was adored over there and been through a lot, so I can’t imagine him being overwhelmed.”