The New York Yankees are set to make the signing of Japanese ace pitcher Masahiro Tanaka to a seven-year, $155 million contract official today at 1:00 p.m. ET on YES Network, when they hold a press conference to officially introduce him.
Tanaka is expected to make a huge splash this season, despite Yankees general manager Brian Cashman's cautioning that the organization currently views him as a "very solid number three starter." Tanaka comes over from the Rakuten Golden Eagles after posting an unbeaten season in 2013, piling up 24 wins and 183 strikeouts.
At 25 years old, he is said to boast one of the world's best split-fingered fastballs, and seems to have mastered the Yankees' art of largesse already. According to reports, he flew from Japan with his family and dog on a private jet, dropping $195,000. "It's a (chartered) private jet. It's not something the Yankees have prepared," Tanaka said before departing Tokyo.
He claims he spent the money on the spacious, luxurious flight because he wanted to be "in the best of form" for spring training, which kicks off for Yankees pitchers and catchers on February 14th.
Today's press conference will be a star-studded affair, featuring Cashman, Yankees president Randy Levine, manager Joe Girardi, and managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner. Despite all the pomp and circumstance, Cashman was sure to make an attempt at keeping expectations reasonable.
"There is definitely some unknown because of the transition," Cashman said. "We scouted him extensively. Certainly, we look forward to adding him into the mix with the rest of our rotation. That's what we look at him as: A solid, potential No. 3 starter in the big leagues."
Typically, No. 3 starters don't get paid among the top 10 players at the position though, and Cashman seemed to hint at the internal expectations with a throwaway quote. "If we get more than that, all the better. He's got a great deal of ability."
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