The New York Yankees have placed Masahiro Tanaka on the disabled list with what they are calling elbow inflammation.

Elbow pain often is a sign of a torn ulnar collateral ligament and a precursor to Tommy John surgery, but the Yankees declined to divulge the exact nature of Tanaka's injury because he has yet to be examined by their team physician.

"I think you always worry when a guy has an elbow MRI," manager Joe Girardi said. "But until Dr. [Christopher] Ahmad sees him, I don't have much more for you."