Masahiro Tanaka Says He Felt Cheated Out of a World Series Due to Astros' Scandal

With several teams around the MLB reporting for Spring Training, countless players, specifically of the clubs most affected, have been asked for their thoughts on the Houston Astros' extended sign-stealing operation that resulted in the team winning the World Series in 2017.

New York Yankees hurler Masahiro Tanaka was the latest to be badgered, and he provided a response that's grown far too common, but is no less symbolic, across the league.

Tanaka thoroughly believes that the Yanks were cheated out of a chance at competing for a world championship.

“Yeah, you do feel that way,” Tanaka said through his interpreter on Monday. "I don't know if mad is the right word. It's something that's out of the rule. They're obviously not abiding by the rules, so yeah. That's what I thought."

To absolutely nobody's surprise, the two-time All-Star is following the standard that CC Sabathia set in the wake of The Athletic's bombshell...though he wasn't nearly as boisterous as the retired left-hander.

Tanaka even provided further insight into the Yankees approach against Houston in the ALCS last season, asserting that they were exceedingly cautious and changing signs as often as possible.

The Japan native's claims further prove that teams around the league had a gut feeling that the Astros were up to something mischievous, AND that their punishment clearly doesn't serve as any silver lining to the players wrongfully deprived of a shot at competing for a World Series title.