At the tender age of 25, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has managed to do what few players have done before in the MLB empire. He made a name for himself before he even stepped foot in the major leagues. The pitcher’s reputation has led to MLB insiders predicting a contract of around $200 million or above being drawn for him by the teams competing to secure his place on their roster.

Yamamoto reportedly has friends around the major’s diamonds, a fact that might affect his decision to choose a team that is best fitted to his set of skills. Considering that, let’s see which five colossal names of the major leagues can be deemed the best landing spots for him.

The top three contenders in the Yoshinobu Yamamoto race

The top five clubhouses that are favored to land Yoshinobu Yamamoto are the ones with the biggest treasuries as well. The list begins with the top patrolled team, the New York Mets. They can give Yamamoto a place to both flourish and gain fame, and a Japanese ace doesn’t hurt chances either. Kodai Senga, Yamamoto’s long-time friend, not only strengthens the Mets’ chance of acquiring him but has been pushing the team for the same.

The next on the list is the New York Yankees. Not only can they afford to go above the $200 million threshold, but Yoshi has expressed an interest in playing Pinstripes before. The Boston Red Sox follow shortly after, with their own connection to Yamamoto in the form of Masataka Yoshida. Yoshida has played with Yamamoto in the Japanese leagues as well. Whether this will help the Sox in the long term or not remains to be seen.

Will Yamamoto choose one of the underdogs as their next team?

The last two on the list are the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers could use a pitcher or two in their lineup. The Giants, on the other hand, have an unlucky history of missing out on huge prospects the last few years. They could really use a win for the coming season.

Read More: Despite Strong Yoshinobu Yamamoto Links, Are the Mets Set to Trade for This 2022 Cy Young Contender?

The Japanese ace is expected to start talking to teams over call, and come to the States once the Winter Meetings are over. Whom will we see Yamamoto choosing to play for after his free agency deadline closes in January? Only time will tell!

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