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New York Yankees: It’s time to do something with Tanaka

By Matthew Travis

Jun 6, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) reacts walking to the dugout against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 6, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) reacts walking to the dugout against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka has been terrible of late, and it’s time for the Yankees to take action and decide what they want to do with him.

The New York Yankees have two options when it comes to Masahiro Tanaka.

They can either trade him before the deadline, which would take a lot off their payroll, or they can send him down to the minors and hope he can find himself again.

Mashairo Tanaka was once the most coveted player in the MLB before deciding to sign with the Yankees after his departure from the Japanese league.

Now, Tanaka holds the second worst ERA in the MLB, and he shows no signs of improving. However, even with all of that Tanaka is still the Yankees ace.

Masahiro Tanaka holds a 5-6 record and has pitched in 7 of the Yankees 23 losses. Coming into this seaso Tanaka had a career 3.53 ERA, this season he has a 6.55 ERA. Tanaka continues to get worse and the Yankees need to do something about it once and for all.

The Yankees keep beating around the bush and continue to point to Tanaka’s two solid outings on the season.

These include his 3-0 win against Boston on April 27th, and his 7-inning game against Oakland allowing 1 earned run on May 26th.

After Tanaka’s horrible performance last night, letting up 5 runs in a 5 inning outing, the Yankees need to get over themselves and take action.

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The Yankees are still trying to hold onto the fact that Tanaka was once one of the most dominant pitchers in the league. If they are going to continue to do so, then they should send him down to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, or Trenton. It will allow him to get back into the groove of things, and then bring him back up.

However, most Yankee fans have jumped ship and want him off the roster. If the Yankees decide to trade Tanaka, they would be able to get a good bit out of him seeing as he has a 7-year $155 million contract.

If the Yankees are all in this season, which it appears they are, then they should trade Tanaka and get a consistent batter and/or a decent pitcher out of it. The two positions the Yankees seem to have trouble at are first base, and pitcher.

With Greg Bird being injured, Chris Carter has played and simply has been terrible.

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If the Yankees can get a first baseman out of Tanaka then they will be able to make a deep run into October.

On a promising note, Luis Severino has been the one bright light in a rather dull pitching rotation. Aside from Severino, most everyone has been inconsistent from start to start.

If the Yankees could get a pitcher out of Tanaka that would be a big boost to the rotation and would allow the Bombers to take some pressure off the bullpen.

The ideal situation would be trading Tanaka right before the deadline for a pretty decent first baseman and starting pitcher. This would fill the holes that the Yankees clearly have and would allow them to get Tanaka both off the payroll and the lineup.

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