Report: Yankees won't talk extension with Masahiro Tanaka in 2017

  At the end of the 2017 season, Masahiro Tanaka will be left with a choice: remain in New York, or test the free agent market. Whatever his decision may be, the Yankees won't attempt to make the first move. "Hopefully he has a great year and he'll have a decision to make," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. "If he doesn't, then he won't." According to Cashman, the team will reportedly not discuss a contract extension with Tanaka at any point this upcoming season. The 28-year-old righty, who signed a seven-year, $155 million deal with New York prior to the 2014 season, is eligible to opt out of the pact following his fourth year. The price for Tanaka also included a $20 million posting fee to Tanaka's former Japanese team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. If Tanaka elects to honor the deal and remain with the club, he will make $67 million from 2018 to 2020. Tanaka finished seventh in the American League Cy Young vote in 2016, posting a 14-4 record and 3.07 ERA in 31 starts. Since joining the majors, he was gone 39-16 with a 3.12 ERA, with a K/9 rate of 8.2 and BB/9 rate of 1.5. Despite consistent numbers, Tanaka remains as a considerable liability. Two seasons ago, Tanaka suffered a partial tear to his ulnar collateral ligament, and further damage would require Tommy John surgery. In 2015, he experienced right wrist tendinitis and a forearm strain, and later underwent offseason right elbow surgery to remove a bone spur. "We made a significant investment and he was a Cy Young award candidate last season and we certainly hope he does again," Cashman said. "But at this stage, we've had no discussions internally to pursue any type of extension."

If you want to connect with Tom Hanslin, email him at thanslin@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @tomhanslin.