As we’ve seen over the past few seasons, the Yankees are not afraid to play it fast and loose with their impending free agents. And although Tanaka isn’t technically a free agent at the conclusion of the 2017 season, should he complete the upcoming campaign without doing any further damage to the already partially torn UCL in his right throwing elbow — let alone match or exceed last season’s numbers (when he finished eighth in the AL Cy Young vote), he’ll most certainly opt out of his current contract.
On Tuesday, Yankees GM Brian Cashman had this to say about the 28-year-old right-hander:
“Hopefully he has a great year and he’ll have a decision to make.