Rothschild: Reports positive on Tanaka

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) New York Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild says offseason reports on Masahiro Tanaka's right elbow have been positive.

Tanaka is throwing and doing his normal conditioning program in Japan. Signed to a $155 million, seven-year contract in January 2014, Tanaka went 13-5 with a .277 ERA over 20 starts. He missed 2 1/2 months while rehabilitating a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow and returned for two late September starts. Boston chased him with an eight-run second inning in his finale on Sept. 27.

Rothschild also has received encouraging reports on CC Sabathia, who was sidelined with a degenerative cartilage problem in his right knee and had season-ending surgery in July.