Masahiro Tanaka signed a seven-year $155 million contract with the Yankees prior to the 2014 season. The contract included an opt-out clause that the pitcher could exercise following the 2017 season.
The Yankees outbid at least six other MLB teams and paid an additional $20 million posting fee to Tanaka's Nippon Professional Baseball team in order to sign the right-hander. At the time, it was the fifth largest contract ever awarded to a pitcher.
Tanaka had gone 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA in 2013, leading the Rakuten Golden Eagles to victory in the Japan Series.