Yankees sign pitcher Masahiro Tanaka

The New York Yankees have signed right-handed pitcher Masahiro Tanaka to a seven-year Major League contract, extending through the 2020 season with an opt-out following the 2017 season.

Tanaka, 25, went 99-35 with a 2.30 ERA (1,315.0IP, 336ER), 1,182 hits allowed, 275 walks and 1,238 strikeouts in 175 career games (172 starts) over seven seasons with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan’s Pacific League (2007-13). He threw 53 complete games (18 shutouts) with Rakuten, and allowed .899 hits per inning in his Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) career.

In 2013, Tanaka was 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA (212.0IP, 30ER) in 28 games (27 starts), allowing 168 hits and 32 walks with 183 strikeouts. He tossed eight complete games and two shutouts with one save while leading NPB in wins and ERA. In the Japan Series vs. the Yomiuri Giants, Tanaka went 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA (19.0IP, 5ER) in three games (two starts) with four walks and 21 strikeouts. He was given the honor of throwing the final pitches in Game 7 of the best-of-seven Series, earning the save as Rakuten captured its first title in franchise history.