The hottest topic of prospective rookie drafts in the MLB, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, has been turning heads even before stepping on the diamond. The Orix Buffaloes recently announced that the player will be open for major league deals from November 20th onward. Quite a few clubs are racing to secure the player for their lineup. But one seems to be a perfect fit for Yamamoto’s barrage of skills.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been making phenomenal changes this offseason by reinstating some of their long-term players. Famous for their loyalty to the players and their trust in the team, the Phillies have rarely let a chance go when it comes to smart drafting. Take Aaron Nola, for instance. The 30-year-old ace has been playing with the Phillies since his debut back in 2015. He got back on the team following a short free agency phase after they offered him a hefty deal for seven years. There are also speculations that the Phillies are in the process of chasing and choosing Yamamoto in full force. Will his addition to the team prove to be the puzzle piece that the team has been missing for so long?

The Yoshinobu Yamamoto future for the Phillies

According to a Philadelphia Inquirer representative, a certain Phillies insider has revealed the team’s decision to draft two more starters in addition to Nola. The team’s starter pitching depth was measured in last year’s playoffs, and they would like to maintain it as strongly as possible.

Nola might have been the top priority for the Phillies this offseason, but the story doesn’t end with just acquiring him. For a team that boasts one of the strongest pitching lineups in the leagues, adding Yoshinobu Yamamoto will further prop up their chances at securing a World Series berth next season.

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The Phillies had an outstanding pitching record for the 2023 season. Including Nola’s record of 202 strikeouts, they struck out a good 1454 this year and have been ranked third in the National League for the same. Yamamoto’s Nippon Professional Baseball league record boasts 169 strikeouts this season. He scored 922 career strikeouts across seven years. His record proves that he will be an invaluable addition to the team’s defense lineup. How much will the Phillies be willing to pay to get the Japanese prodigy into their clubhouse?

A pocket full of Phillies pennies

The Phillies spent $172 million on Nola to secure him for seven years this week; they previously offered him a $100+ million extension at the beginning of this season. It won’t be a hard feat for the team to splurge a good $225 million on Yamamoto for nine years.

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As MLB clubs wait for the Buffaloes to officially post the 25-year-old star, it will be a race to see who lands the talent. Let’s hope that the Phils clinch the star pitcher spot on their 2024 roster. May they head on into the next season in a fiery form!

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