Making the Case for Trading Masahiro Tanaka

I may not have the time to respond to every single comment here on the blog but I do read each and every one of them every single day. One comment on one of my posts asked the question, and I'm paraphrasing, of whether the Yankees would or should trade Masahiro Tanaka this winter and that got me thinking. Little p patrick, always with a little p, asked for a post on my take on the situation so here it is. Here is my case for trading Masahiro Tanaka this winter.

As we all know by now Tanaka has an opt-out clause written into his contract that can make the Japanese-born right-hander a free agent after the 2017 season. With his injury history, his partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow that may or may not ever affect him down the road and the Yankees recent turn towards prospects and the future there is no better time to strike on a trade for Tanaka than now.

Tanaka had possibly his best season in the Major Leagues in 2016 posting a 14-4 record with a 3.07 ERA and teams like the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox, the Houston Astros, the St. Louis Cardinals and others would sell their farms for a guy like Tanaka and Yankees GM would have all the power in the negotiations much like he had this summer with Aroldis Chapman, Carlos Beltran and Andrew Miller.

So the decision comes down to this. Will the Yankees compete in 2017? Like legitimimately compete for a World Series or a deep postseason trip next season. If they are then you have to keep Tanaka and solidify with this newfound farm system next summer. If you're not, and they aren't, then there is absolutely no harm in offering him up to teams this winter. If Cashman gets a deal that seems to good to be true, take it. If not, keep him.

It's as simple as that. It takes a lot to be untouchable on this team right now and Tanaka just hasn't done enough to be untouchable in my eyes.

Cubs, Dodgers, Rangers, Red Sox, Astros and Cardinals would fall over themselves trying to land him.