MLB Free Agents: 5 starters ready to test the market in 2021
Masahiro Tanka- New York Yankees
This is a rare and interesting situation.
As many remember, the Yankees signed Tanaka in 2014 to a seven-year, $155 million contract and brought him over from Japan. He received a huge deal before he ever pitched in the majors.
Well, time flies and this is the last year on his deal. Tanaka will be 31 this season and his expected to be an unrestricted free agent after this season. He has the possibility to sign another big deal.
The two-time All-Star is coming off a shaky season. Though 31 starts, he went 11-9 with a 4.45 ERA.
However, Tanka has always been great in the postseason. Through four years, six series, Tanaka is 5-3 with a 1.76 ERA. Many teams take that into account when going after MLB free agents because
pitchers with postseason experience are in high demand.
Tanaka has proven to be a very productive starter. He is not an ace, but he would do very well as a contending team’s second or third starter.
Despite being 1/3 of an inning short in 2016, he has yet to pitch 200 innings in a season. If he passes that threshold this season, it will show teams that he is durable and can go deep into games.