Masahiro Tanaka chooses Yankees for reported $155 million over 7 years

The Dodgers lost out on Japanese import Masahiro Tanaka, who agreed to terms with the Yankees for a reported $155 million over seven years, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

The deal includes an opt-out clause after four years, per Rosenthal.

With Tanaka now signed, it's likely the Dodgers turn there attention to another starting pitcher. They have been rumored to be interested in Bronson Arroyo, who has 200 innings in eight of the last nine seasons (and 199 in the other year, 2011) and turns 37 in February.

It wasn't just the Yankees who reportedly outbid the Dodgers for Tanaka.

I'm told Tanaka would have left "a decent amount" of money on the table if he wanted to pitch for #Dodgers, who were outbid by Cubs, Yanks.

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) January 22, 2014

The Yankees will pay a $20 million release fee to the Rakuten Eagles for Tanaka, which doesn't count against the competitive balance tax. The fee will be split in two installments in 2014 and 2015.

Tanaka, 25, was 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA in 28 games, including 27 starts, with Rakuten in 2013, with 183 strikeouts and 32 walks in 212 innings. He suffered his first loss of the season in Game 6 of the Japan Series in November, but recovered to earn the save in the decisive Game 7, one night after throwing 160 pitches.

He put up sub-2.00 ERAs in each of the last three years in Japan, and in seven seasons in NPB he is 99-35 with a 2.30 ERA with 1,283 strikeouts in 1,315 innings.

The Eagles posted Tanaka on December 26. He was free to negotiate with all 30 MLB clubs, with a deadline to make a decision by Friday, January 24 at 2 p.m. PT.