Tanaka to the Bronx

As always, the Yankees got the big free agent they wanted, and this time it was Masahiro Tanaka. The deal is for 7 seven years and 155 million(there is an opt-out clause after the 4th year), which is the fifth most expensive deal ever for a pitcher. Only Clayton Kershaw, who signed an extension last week for 215 million, Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez, and C.C. Sabathia have signed bigger contracts. Along with the 155 million to Tanaka, the Yankees have to pay the posting fee(20 million) to Tanaka's former team in Japan, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Even though Tanaka was literally unhittable last season(24-0 record, 1.27 ERA), there is many risks that come along with the giant contract. Tanaka has been a full-time starter in Japan since 2007, when he was only 18 years old. Since then, he has pitched 1,315 innings, which is a huge workload for a guy who's only 25. That was a stat that scared off many teams. But then again, this is the Yankees, who are determined to win now, so that obviously was not a problem for them. This is another big move for the Yankees, who have already given big contracts to Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, and Carlos Beltran. Those contracts, plus Tanaka's, add up to 438 million which brings the Yankees over the 189 million tax threshold. Now the Yankees have to pay a 50% tax rate instead of just 12.5%. This spending is understandable though. The Yankees missed the playoffs in 2013, which was the first time since 2008. That offseason, the Yankees went on a spending spree, signing Sabathia, Mark Teixeira , and A.J. Burnett and went on to win the World Series the next year. This has been a similar spending spree and now the Yankees seem a lock for the postseason, if they can stay healthy.