Shocking news has been reported to the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Masahiro Tanaka, 36, who was considered a symbol of the Rakuten Golden Eagles, has declared a new challenge after deciding to leave the team.메이저놀이터

According to major Japanese sports media, Rakuten decided not to put Tanaka on the list of players on hold for contract, which is scheduled to be submitted on the 30th. Tanaka officially said goodbye through his YouTube channel, "I decided not to sign with Rakuten next season, and I decided to find a new team." He said, "I'd like to thank the club officials, coaching staff, and teammates for their help. I was really happy to return to Sendai in MLB and play with him," and reflected on his relationship with Rakuten.

Tanaka's announcement of separation is sending shockwaves throughout his fans. After joining Rakuten in 2007, Tanaka became an iconic figure in his team, and he made a long-running appearance in NPB history in the 2013 season, setting a new record of 24 wins and no losses with an ERA of 1.27. With this performance, he swept the league MVP and Sawamura Awards, and joined the New York Yankees after the end of the season to advance to the Major League Baseball (MLB). After recording 78 wins (46 losses) over seven seasons with the Yankees, he returned to Rakuten in 2021, impressing his native fans.

Since his return, however, Tanaka's performance has not been the same. He has 20 wins (32) over the past three seasons, and this year he has recorded just one loss in just one appearance. With just three wins left to go until his 200th career victory in the U.S. and Japan, he has decided to challenge this record for a team other than his Rakuten jersey.

It seems that his salary problem played a major role in the background of his breakup. His annual salary was 900 million yen (about 8.1 billion won) when he returned to Rakuten, but his salary was continuously cut due to poor performance. It was reduced to 475 million yen (about 4.3 billion won) in 2023, and this season it was cut to about 260 million yen (about 2.3 billion won) as estimated. There were also reports that it would be reduced to 140 million yen (about 1.2 billion won) next season.

Masahiro Tanaka is preparing for a new challenge by wrapping up his long journey in Rakuten. It is not yet known where his next destination will be, but Tanaka's fighting spirit and challenge to record are still expected to continue.