NEW YORK — Yankees' right-hander Masahiro Tanaka had surgery on his elbow last October to remove a bone spur and as a result may start 2016 behind schedule for cautionary purposes, general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday.
Cashman, speaking to reporters at an event in Manhattan, said that the Japanese import arrived to New York last week and saw the team doctor. Cashman said Tanaka is cleared to begin a pitching program, which reportedly included throwing off a mound earlier this week.
So while it might not be all system go immediately, the team expects its $155 million dollar righty to be OK for the start of the regular season, even if spring training has a slower start.