Masahiro Tanaka (35), who has won 197 games in professional baseball in the U.S. and Japan, will officially break up with his team Rakuten and take on a new challenge.
Tanaka said on his YouTube channel on the 25th, "I don't know where I'll play next season, but I'm in good condition and training well," adding, "I'll make up for what I haven't thrown this season."토토사이트
However, the news sparked a subtle reaction in the Japanese baseball community.
Criticism poured out over Tanaka's announcement as it was inappropriate to set the time just before the final of the "Premier 12," the international competition of the Japanese national team.
■ Poor performance after Rakuten's return...break with a salary cut
Tanaka has been a representative pitcher for Japan since joining the Rakuten Golden Eagles in the Japanese professional baseball league (NPB) in 2007, especially in 2013, recording a legendary record of 24 wins and no losses with a 1.27 ERA.
Tanaka signed a seven-year, 155 million-dollar contract with the New York Yankees in the Major League Baseball through posting the following year and posted a comprehensive 78-46 record with a 3.74 ERA over seven seasons.
Tanaka, who returned to Rakuten in 2021, has seen his performance drop, contrary to expectations. He went 20-33 in four seasons, and was effectively considered "out-of-power" this year with a humble record of one loss and 7.20 ERA in just one appearance.
Along with poor performance, the annual salary has decreased sharply. The salary was cut from 900 million yen in the 2021-2022 season to 475 million yen in 2023 and 260 million yen in the 2024 season.
On top of that, when Rakuten offered conditions that had been cut by more than 40% in recent negotiations, Tanaka eventually decided to leave the team.
Tanaka, who is about to win 200 games, is a future coach candidate, and although the salary cut drew fire, some say he chose to break up because of the broken trust with the club.
■Trying to win 200 games in total between the U.S. and Japan...Where's the next destination?
Tanaka recorded 119 wins and 67 losses in 10 NPB seasons and 78 wins and 46 losses in 7 MLB seasons, accumulating 197 wins in the U.S. and Japan.
He has expressed his willingness to achieve 200 wins and is looking for a new team, but the specific destination is still unclear.
Japanese baseball officials and fans are paying attention to which team Tanaka will sign next season. However, due to his injury and poor performance in recent months, some speculate that not many teams would seek to recruit him.
■ Controversy over the timing of the announcement...simultaneously raising criticism and concerns
The announcement of Tanaka's separation from Rakuten sparked an unexpected controversy in the Japanese baseball community. It was the day before the final of the Premier 12 match. Moreover, Tanaka made the announcement an hour before the start of the game.
An NPB official criticized Tanaka for the timing of his announcement, saying, "It is common sense to avoid personal announcements on days when there is an important event in the baseball community." On the other hand, some fans expressed their understanding of Tanaka's decision, expressing mixed opinions.
Tanaka showed his will to challenge this year, saying, "I will make up for this year's disappointment next year," and attention is being paid to whether he will be able to open his second heyday by achieving 200 career wins on the new team.