Masahiro Tanaka

Masahiro Tanaka returns to Japan to pitch in NPB

Masahiro Tanaka signed a two-year contract to return home to Japan and pitch for the Rakuten Eagles.

Fantasy Impact

It's unknown exactly how much interest Tanaka received in free agency. Perhaps he simply wanted to return home given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless, this ends a successful major league run for Tanaka. The 32-year-old finishes his career with a 3.74 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 78-46 lifetime record. He also pitched some big games for the Yankees in some of their recent playoff runs.