In an awesome bit of Yankees rumors and news, it looks like the Yankees' most-hyped acquisition of the offseason is already in a New York state of mind.
According to the New York Daily News, New York Yankees' Japanese sensation Masahiro Tanaka chartered a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Tokyo to New York for his welcoming press conference on Tuesday.
The luxury jet, which normally seats 200, carried just Tanaka, his wife, three other passengers, and Tanaka's brown toy poodle on the journey.
The cost of the flight was a cool $195,000, which compared to the 7-year, $155 million contract Masahiro Tanaka signed with the New York Yankees last month, will still stand about $500,000 or so short of what Tanaka will be paid per start in the Bronx.
Speaking to reporters at Narita Airport near Tokyo on Sunday, Masahiro Tanaka stated that the New York Yankees had nothing to do with the chartering of the flight, rather that he just wanted to be "in the best of form" for the beginning of his work with the Yankees.
New York Yankees pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Friday, and a well-rested Masahiro Tanaka should participate in his first workout as a Yankee the next day.