The New York Yankees have a few major decisions coming their
way after this season but no decision could be bigger than the decision that
they don’t really have a say in. Masahiro Tanaka has an opt-out clause written
into his contract that could allow the right-hander to walk away from his
current Yankees contract and would allow him to test true free agency for the
first time in his MLB career. The Yankees also have Michael Pineda and CC
Sabathia reaching free agency after the season meaning that Tanaka’s decision
could be huge for the Yankees next season, either way. With that in mind could
it be a good thing that Tanaka is coming out of the gates and struggling so bad
in 2017?
Think of it this way… the opt out clause is only there to
help the player, not the team. It is the player that benefits from opting out
and potentially getting more money for longer years if he is performing well at
the time of the opt-out, not the team. If the player is underperforming then
the team is basically stuck with the player because no player is going to opt
out of a deal after a down season, it doesn’t make dollars and it doesn’t make
sense. This is usually a no-win situation for the team but I truly think this
could be a winning situation for the Yankees.
Tanaka was absolutely lights out this spring training and
was dominating the world but once the games starting meaning something he has
seemingly struggled throughout. Why is that? Most have discussed his increase
in velocity and arm strength that has messed with his mechanics and honestly
that argument holds water. Tanaka has been overthrowing and leaving pitches up
and in the zone so it is only a matter of time before he and pitching coach
Larry Rothschild figures it out. Tanaka is young, seemingly healthy by all
accounts and has a track record that shows he will put it all together
eventually. This could be great for the Yankees if Tanaka stays beyond the 2017
season because an uptick in velocity and arm strength, both signs that he is
healthy and not necessarily signs of his elbow about to blow out like some have
said, keep him back a bit.
I am thinking long term here. If Tanaka can struggle a bit
for the first place Yankees in 2017 and stay beyond 2017 I have to call that a
win-win situation for New York so by all means Mr. Tanaka, continue to
struggle. See you in 2018.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)