as mentioned, I hope its a ploy to have to not waste Tanaka in the A.S. game.
IF IT WAS His rotator cuff WAS or IS torn, He would NOT be able to lift his arm to his shoulder, or above the shoulder....a torn cuff will NOT enable one to lift their arm beyond their shoulder, if one can raise it that high...
I'm not an expert, tho' I've had 3 cuff repair surgeries on the RH shoulder, and 1 on the LH, and awaiting a 2nd surgery on the LH....(tho' I'm putting it off as long as possible, sick of the scalpels)...!