Masahiro Tanaka out at least 6 weeks.

The new York Yankees will be without ace right-hander Masahiro Tanaka for at least six weeks due to a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, but for now have dodged the bullet of season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Tanaka was examined Thursday afternoon in Seattle, where all three doctors were attending an annual conference of orthopedic surgeons.

Tanaka complained of elbow pain following a subpar performance Tuesday night, in which he blew a 3-1 lead to the Cleveland Indians, allowing home runs to Nick Swisher and Michael Brantley in a 5-3 Yankees loss.

But Cashman also expressed personal distress at the loss of a player in which the Yankees had invested nearly as much in hope as in money.cheap oakley sunglasses