At a press conference in which he announced his return to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, the veteran right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, ex of New York Yankees, hinted that he could return to the majors even before his two-year contract with the Japanese Eagles ends (that is, no later than 2022):
I feel like I have unfinished business in the United States, and I haven’t given up on that, so they agreed on terms that would keep those options open. ”
This could appear to hint at an opt-out clause after the 2021 season, notes famed New York Post journalist Ken Davidoff, and possibly a return to the Yankees in 2022.
With the Yankees intent on resetting their luxury tax penalty cap this winter, the team chose to spend its resources elsewhere rather than re-sign Tanaka at the desired sales price.
However, in the upcoming offseason, the Yankees may be willing to exceed the tax threshold (and pay only a penalty for the first time) to acquire Tanaka and other enhancements on the 40 roster.
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