OAKLAND, Calif. — If Masahiro Tanaka, with his fragile right elbow ligament, seems to be a pitch-by-pitch proposition for the Yankees, then it is not surprising that his return is a halting, step-by-step process as well.
So after Tanaka reported no problems in his rehab start Wednesday for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Yankees were flying him here Thursday night for a meeting with Manager Joe Girardi on Friday. If all goes well, Tanaka will join the rotation either Tuesday or Wednesday in Seattle.
“We’ll have a heart-to-heart talk with him to feel where he’s at, and hopefully he can make a start in Seattle,” Girardi said before the Yankees opened a four-game series against the Athletics, who have the worst record in the American League.