Yankees' Tanaka Starts Pre-Spring Training Work In Florida
TAMPA, Fla. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Masahiro Tanaka has arrived at the New York Yankees' minor league complex for pre-spring training workouts in Florida.
Tanaka was at the facility Monday and is scheduled to throw off a mound Wednesday.
The right-hander was a concern at the start of spring training last year after undergoing arthroscopic surgery in October 2015 to remove a bone spur from his throwing elbow. He went 14-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 31 starts.
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"Last year he had that procedure done, so he's ahead of where he was last year," Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "He's already been on the mound a little bit. Coming in, he seems to be in a good place."
Tanaka can opt out of his $155 million, seven-year contract after this season, give up a $23 million annual salary from 2018-20 and become a free agent. He is 39-16 with a 3.12 ERA over 75 starts in three seasons with the Yankees.
New York pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Feb. 14.
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