‘No one remembers who came in second’. This may not be entirely true. While the MLB world cannot have enough of  Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s $325 million deal, an interesting tidbit has emerged. In an alternate world where the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t exist, the Japanese ace might have chosen a different destination. Surprisingly, it is not New York.  

Remember the time when the San Francisco Giants were in the mix for the Yoshi chase? Turns out there was quite a likelihood for that to come to fruition. Although the former Orix Buffaloes star will be spending over a decade in Southern California, starting in 2024, he was drawn to “a beautiful city”. 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Alternate Destination in a Dodgers-less World

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic tweeted what tickled the curiosity of many. The likes of not seeing the 25-year-old as a Blue Boy can be hard to digest. But if LA was not in the picture, he said, “He thought that San Francisco reminded him of Osaka and thought it was a beautiful city…If the Dodgers had not been pursuing him, there was a good chance San Francisco could’ve been his destination.“

The Giants were keen on strengthening their team. However, they faced competition from the Dodgers, the New York Mets, the Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Boston Red Sox for Yoshi. Despite an attractive proposal from the Giants, it looked as though either the Dodgers or one of the New York teams had a chance of bagging the much sought-after pitcher. That said, Yamamoto was not the only one to slip out of San Fran’s grasp. 

The club’s chase for top-tier free agents has been underwhelming for them lately. They missed names like Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Trea Turner, and Carlos Correa. They do seem to have an ample spending capacity as of now.

With Roster Resource’s $158 million payroll projections for the upcoming season, San Francisco still has the freedom to bag other top talents. Could they land Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, or Matt Chapman overshadowing other contenders? While this still remains to be seen, the Blue Crew seems to have an advantage over the Bombers and the Giants.

Watch This Story : 25-Year-Old Japanese Sensation, Yoshinobu’s Dodgers Signing Pushed The Yankees On Their Former Position

The Dodgers’ Advantage in Free Agency Amid New York Yankees and Giants Competition

Well, the Dodgers and the Giants have had an ongoing rivalry for ages. During the free agency, despite their impressive pitch, LA connected better with two of the hottest players in the market. Yamamoto said, “Through my talks with the front office it was really clear that they wanted to win” Additionally, the two-way phenom’s presence in the Dodgers aided Yamamoto’s decision. 

The coming spring will focus on divisional matchups. The Giants are set to face the San Diego Padres on Opening Day. Their home opener at Oracle Park is caught up between a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Dodgers won’t be visiting San Francisco until the weekday series in mid-May. Only time will tell how the season will pan out for both the teams.

Read More : Was Yankees’ $300 Million Yoshinobu Yamamoto Stance a Lack of Commitment? How Will It Impact Future Deals?