2024.11.24(Sun) Rakuten announced on the 24th that pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will not be listed on the reserve list for next season. He was announced as a free agent and is expected to leave the team. In a release, the team explained, “As a result of discussions, it has been decided that he will not be listed on the list of players on hold for contract, which is scheduled to be submitted on November 30th.” Tanaka returned to the Yankees in January 2021 on a two-year contract. He fought hard as part of the starting rotation, but failed to reach double-digit wins in the same year or 2022. During the offseason, he re-signed with a salary that exceeded the salary reduction limit. In 2011, he served as the opening pitcher for the first time in 11 years and participated in the All-Star game, but did not reach the required number of innings pitched. He has only pitched in one game this season. “I have decided not to sign a contract with the Rakuten Eagles for next season and instead look for a new team,” Tanaka said on his YouTube channel. “To all the fans, my goal with the Eagles was to become number one in Japan, and I played with the sole desire to become number one. “It’s unfortunate that I wasn’t able to achieve that goal in these four years,” he said, adding, “You always believed in me, gave me warm encouragement, and supported me. Thank you very much. Thank you,” he said, expressing his gratitude to his fans. Regarding the future, he said, “I don’t know anything yet, but I’m currently able to get in some good training. Next season, I would like to pitch even better and compete in the way that I wasn’t able to do this year. Once a conclusion has been reached, I will report it to you all again here.” Rakuten’s sporting director, Ishii Kazuhisa, held an online press conference to explain the situation. “Since it’s part of the contract, we are bound by confidentiality, but if we had offered a pay cut that exceeded the limit and the player did not agree, he would not have been placed on the reserved list,” he explained. When asked why he had to make such a strict proposal, he said, “We have to make a judgment on those who were able to produce good results and those who were not. Although it would exceed the reduction limit, Tanaka is a very important player for us and has contributed greatly to the team since the club was founded. However, since the reduction limit was exceeded, we discussed the matter and wanted to hear Tanaka’s opinion,” said SD Ishii. “In the end, he said he wanted to be made a free agent,” he revealed, adding, “He has contributed a lot for many years, so I hope that will be respected.” Related articles Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka announces his departure from Rakuten in a video: “I have decided not to sign a contract for next season and to look for a new team” – thanks colleagues and fans [Full report] Rakuten SD Ishii Kazuhisa explains the circumstances of Tanaka Masahiro’s departure: “I proposed a pay cut that exceeded the pay cut limit, and no agreement was obtained” Why did Rakuten’s Tanaka Masahiro leave in shock? SD Ishii explains that Article 92 of the baseball agreement specifies the pay cut limit, and if no agreement is obtained, “we must give up the right to withhold the money” Previous thread.
>>1 Masahiro Tanaka’s performance 2021 4 wins, 9 losses, 3.01, 900 million yen 2022 9 wins, 12 losses, 3.31, 900 million yen 2023 7 wins, 11 losses, 4.91, 475 million yen 2024 0 wins, 1 loss, 7.20, 260 million yen Who will win it? lol.
He’s a great contributor to Rakuten, bringing them a huge amount of money and a championship, so even if he can’t do anything, just leave him for about two years.
There are plenty of ways to get him to pitch from the 5th inning in a game with a big lead early on, and get him to win 3 games or something like that. That’s why I hate Rakuten.
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