The New York Yankees have been turning tables in the Winter Meetings with careful trade moves. Although that might solidify their base for the upcoming season, they still have a long way to go before they can promise the same to their fanbase. The Yanks have sorted out their outfield lineup and catching deficiencies. All they need to do now is pick a long-term pitcher with god-level skills. Luckily for them, just such a candidate exists.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto seems to fit that requirement as brilliantly as one of his vicious curveballs. Will the Yanks be able to clinch the much-revered youngster?

The New York Yankees’ Yamamoto ambition

Yoshinobu Yamamoto had been shaking up the MLB world for months before he entered it. The 25-year-old star pitcher scored a baffling 1.21 ERA, striking out 176 this season with his NPB team, the Orix Buffaloes. How does his current form factor into the New York Yankees’ list of requirements?

The Yankees recently acquired outfielders Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo in two offseason trades. Within a span of a week, the team recruited two left-handed powerhouses to a lineup that was ranked 29th in lefty plate appearances in 2023. Not only did that strengthen their base, but it also made space to add to their rotational lineup by emptying the pitcher posts on the Soto trade.

They now have Soto, Verdugo, and Trent Grisham to back up their hitting lineup. For a starting pitcher, they have Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, but the rest of the pitching lineup sees no promise, and for good reasons.

Why Yamamoto is the perfect missing puzzle piece

Cole is followed by Carlos Rodon, who has been injured throughout 2023. Lefty Nestor Cortes is just recovering from his cuff injuries. Only Clark Schmidt seems to have good form heading into 2024.

Read More: After Juan Soto, Yankees’ Top Brass Target Yoshinobu Yamamoto With Cross-Town Rivals Posing a Threat

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the perfect fit for the New York Yankees, given his skills and their need for a pitcher who can play in Pinstripes for at least a few seasons. Yamamoto easily has at least a decade’s worth of games left in him. The team’s other free-agency option includes Shohei Ohtani, but that doesn’t seem too feasible.

Ohtani’s price tag ranges around $500 million—that’s $300 more than Yamamoto’s $200 million predictions. Shotime will also not be able to pitch through 2024, which makes it illogical for the Pinstripes to get him for his hitting skills. Do you think the Yanks should finalize the Yamamoto deal? Let us know in the comments below!

Watch This Story: The Japanese Ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Head Turning Deal Of $200 Million Was Confirmed By Insider, Keeping Giant Teams On The Hotlists