Japanese pitcher Tanaka signs 7-year deal worth $155 million with Yankees

Japan’s right-hander Masahiro Tanaka has set a record in MLB history as an FA (free agent) Asian player to get paid over $100 million.

Tanaka and the New York Yankees agreed on Wednesday (local time) to a $155 million, seven-year contract.

In December last year, South Korea’s Choo Shin-soo, who was one of the best leadoff hitters for the Cincinnati Reds last season, signed a seven-year contract worth $130 million with the Texas Rangers.

Tanaka played for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Nippon Professional Baseball’s Pacific League from 2007 through 2013. He went unbeaten last season.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com