Japanese right-handed pitcher Masahiro Tanaka signed a contract with the New York Yankees last Wednesday worth $155 million over seven years, the fifth-largest salary for a pitcher just behind Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw ($215 million) and Detroit’s Justin Verlander ($180 million).

Tanaka is considered by analysts to be one of the most promising young pitchers in baseball based on his 24-0 record last season and 1.27 ERA as the ace for the Rakuten Eagles in Japan, leading them to a series title.

Tanaka said he was “relieved” that his deal with the Yankees was sealed, and says he chose the organization because “they gave him the highest evaluation and are a world-famous team.” His goal with the historic American ballclub is to “become world champions.”

Tanaka recorded an astounding 99 wins and 35 losses with the Eagles, and managed a 2.30 ERA through seven seasons with his former Japanese club striking out 1,238 batters in 1,315 innings, an average of just under a strikeout per inning.

The Yankees have had their eye on Tanaka since 2007, scouting 15 of his games. When asked about the unprecedented contract, Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said “We’re going to do what we’ve got to do to win. We had to make sure we had enough pitching to go together with our new lineup.”

Tanaka will join a Yankees staff likely featuring C.C. Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova, and David Phelps in their starting rotation for the 2014 season.

“I don’t speak English,” Tanaka said at a press conference, “so I’ll just have to win the trust and confidence of the fans with my performance on the field.”

Alongside the Yankees in bidding were the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros. The Astros also bid over $100 million, the Houston Chronicle recorded, and according to the Chicago Tribune the Cubs put up an offer of just under $150 million. The Yankees “took it to a level we weren’t comfortable going to in terms of commitment and cost,” said White Sox general manager Rick Hahn.

Tanaka will join the Yankees receiving the highest contract for an international free agent in MLB history.