In a Twitter post made this morning, Jeff Passan of ESPN revealed that Japanese star slugger Yoshinobu Yamamoto is all set to officially enter the MLB market this week. The Orix Buffaloes revealed their intention to post their right-hand pitcher on the MLB market on Sunday, November 5. According to Passan, the New York Yankees are the most active contenders in the Yamamoto sweepstakes.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto has had a better-than-promising career in Japanese games. His history in the Nippon Professional Baseball League is full of awards and record-breaking stats. The fan favorite “Yossy” has scored a baffling 169 strikeouts this season alone. He will be an invaluable addition to their prospective World Series dreams; the Yankees just need to trump him in an unexpected off-season deal. How likely are they to win the Yamamoto contest?
Will the Yankees win the Yoshinobu Yamamoto race?
Although Yamamoto has other teams like the Mets, Cubs, and Red Sox running after him, the Yankees are most likely to sweep Yamamoto off the market given his $200 million price tag. “If not for Ohtani’s free agency, the arrival of Yoshinobu Yamamoto to MLB would headline the offseason,” Passan stated in an ESPN report. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has unparalleled stats for an MLB rookie; he bagged 169 strikeouts in 164 innings with a 1.21 ERA for his Japanese team this season.
Yankees are among the most active teams in the starting pitching market, and sources say they're showing early interest in Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Aaron Nola, among others. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 14, 2023
Per Jon Morosi, the Yankees are strongly pursuing the Orix Buffaloes sensation. Although their bullpen is headed by Gerrit Cole, a likely AL Cy Young contender in 2023, the defense can always be made stronger with added depth.
Yamamoto’s Japanese league records include a consecutive Sawamura Award win for three years; it is equivalent to the MLB’s Cy Young title. However, he didn’t stop at just that. The 25-year-old NPB pitcher has an Olympic Gold Medal, a World Baseball Classic Championship, and three Pacific League Gold Gloves under his name. He allowed just two homers in this season’s NPB in the 70 games he won. Fans will have to wait and watch if he brings the same fierceness to the Yankees clubhouse as well.
Yankees offseason gamble: a wise choice?
Yoshinobu Yamamoto isn’t the only 2024 target on the Yankees’ list. They also have their eyes set on getting Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani for the upcoming seasons. Dynamic players like Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge are already leading the team from the front lines. Considering all their plans play out well, the club will have a sizeable chance of securing a pennant in 2024.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is all set to bring a mountain of talents upon his entrance into the clubhouse. What do you think the Yankees should offer to the pitcher who’s all set to leave a legacy behind?
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Written by
Edited by
Deepanshi Bajaj