Tanaka takes a '45%' salary cut for two consecutive years, but still pledges to revive.

Masahiro Tanaka (36, Rakuten Golden Eagles), who no longer showed the image of an 'undefeated pitcher' after returning to Japan, signed a 45% salary cut for the second consecutive year. Still holding on. 200 wins are just around the corner.

Japanese media outlet Full Count reported on the 21st, “Tanaka signed a contract for 260 million yen (2.3 billion won), a reduction of 215 million yen (2 billion won) in salary negotiations for the 2024 season.” That's a whopping 45% cut. This is also the second year in a row.

Tanaka returned to his former team, Rakuten, in 2021. He returned after playing as the ace of the New York Yankees, the most prestigious team in Major League Baseball (MLB) for seven years. His former team gave him an annual salary of 900 million yen (8.1 billion won) for two consecutive years.

In 2021, Tanaka started 23 games and left with 4 wins, 9 losses, and an ERA of 3.01. He then recorded 25 games, 9 wins, 12 losses, and an average ERA of 3.31 in 2022. He was decent, but not at the level of highest salary. It was a time when young junior aces competed against each other with an ERA in the 1 point range. Among them, it was difficult to find Tanaka, the 'absolute ace' who had 24 wins, no losses, and an ERA of 1.49 before entering the MLB.

In the end, Tanaka signed a 47% cut in salary negotiations last season. He signed a contract for 475 million yen (4.3 billion won), a reduction of 425 million yen (3.8 billion won) from the previous 900 million yen.

He was very proud, but it didn't change. He couldn't fool time. Tanaka appeared in 24 games last season and suffered the worst slump of his career with 7 wins, 11 losses, and an ERA of 4.91. He bore the disgrace of having the most losses in the Pacific League. Amid the slump, a salary cut naturally followed, and contract negotiations took place, but in the end, he was successful in signing about 10 days before the start of spring camp.

After signing the contract, Tanaka expressed his will to revive in the new season, saying, "I didn't leave a good result, and I know people are saying various things," but "I can still do it." The reason for his poor performance is also due to his physical condition. Tanaka underwent right elbow cleaning surgery in October last year. He is currently pitching through his rehabilitation process.

The full count pointed out that the pitch is falling every year. Tanaka, who recorded 8.46 strikeouts per 9 innings during his 7 MLB seasons, recorded 7.28, 6.96, and 5.23 in the same index over the past three years after returning to Japan. The league has changed, but it is falling further, and it is falling at a steep rate. Full Count expressed the question, "He is 35 years old, so his pitching status may decline. Will he be able to survive by changing his pitching style?"

Tanaka, who completed his contract with Rakuten, will join the first team's spring camp starting on February 1. The goal is to join the opening game. There is one more goal. After making his debut in 2007 and winning Rookie of the Year honors with 11 wins, 7 losses, and an ERA of 3.82, he continued to be on the Rakuten mound until 2013. After his return, he achieved a total of 119 wins on the Japanese stage, including the number of wins. Adding up the 78 wins he achieved over 7 seasons with the Yankees, he currently has 197 wins. He is only three wins away from reaching his 200th win in the U.S. and Japan.

Tanaka himself also has a strong desire to achieve 200 wins. Tanaka pledged, "The number of wins I have accumulated so far is 197. 200 wins are just around the corner. I think I will be able to get there by doing my best, one pitch, one pitch, one game at a time."

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