It might not always be sunny in Philadelphia but there’s hope today. The Phillies have been on a postseason rampage these last few years, especially with Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos lending star power. But the team’s tactics have failed after losing the World Series in 2022 and the NLCS in 2023. Although pitching is not their weak point, Philly is looking to Yoshinobu Yamamoto anyway. Will the Japanese Wonder Boy solve their troubles?

After a certain unicorn of the sport, Yamamoto is perhaps the most sought-after free agent the league has ever seen. Even without throwing a single pitch in an MLB game, the highest-spending clubs believe in his potential. It rarely so happens that not just both New York teams, but the LA Dodgers go after a single player. However, this year the City of Brotherly Love has thrown in its hat too.

Philadelphia Phillies make a formal offer to Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Per The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies have officially offered a deal to the 25-year-old Japanese ace. Reportedly, Yoshinobu Yamamoto had asked clubs not to present numbers at the first meetings. But since those are over, it’s time for an all-out war. Among the top 7 finalists pursuing the 3x PL MVP, the Phillies had been quiet so far. It’s not as if they need a major ace in the hole but a strong bullpen never hurt anyone.

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With Aaron Nola clinched for the next 7 years, Yamamoto could be the lynchpin to the next stage of Philadelphia’s success. Even though the club has publicly stated that their rotation is all set for 2024, “and they are only looking to improve along the margins this offseason,” Yamamoto’s mind-blowing stats would attract anyone aiming for the Fall Classic. But there’s a catch.

More than one, actually. “While it is unlikely that the Phillies will be the highest bidder for Yamamoto, a source with direct knowledge of the team’s thinking said they were planning to be ‘aggressive,'” as the Inquirer pointed out. Not to mention the Phillies’ sparse history of signing Japanese players.

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But if they want the biggest free agent to possibly grace MLB, one who can help immensely in October, they’ll have to bring out the big guns.

Bryce Harper says special hello to Yamamoto

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has kept the baseball world on its toes, wondering about his decision. But as an enticing offer, the City of Brotherly Love’s very own Bryce Harper spoke to the ace as part of the team’s presentation, per MLB Network. And it wasn’t even the first time a team utilized star power like this.

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge was also reported to be in a team meeting with Yamamoto, along with Bronx legend CC Sabathia. With MLB’s best bringing out their bag of tricks, who’s going to be the lucky winner? Only Yoshinobu Yamamoto can tell.

Is Yoshinobu Yamamoto the Missing Puzzle for the Phillies’ Rotation After Securing Aaron Nola for Seven Years?