Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 25, the “monster pitcher” who won four World Series titles in three consecutive years, is finally on the market. On the 21st, he will apply for a posting with the Major League Baseball office. On the 22nd, he will be able to negotiate with all 30 major league clubs. He has 45 days to negotiate.토토사이트
The bidding war for Yamamoto begins. So far, more than 10 teams have expressed interest in Yamamoto, but only a handful of teams with deep pockets can realistically sign him. U.S. media outlets report that the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, both East Coast powerhouses, are at the center of the race.
The Yankees had a senior club official fly to Japan during the season to check out Yamamoto’s game. They watched Yamamoto throw a no-hitter against the Chiba Lotte Marines in September. The Los Angeles Dodgers were a favorite among Japanese players. The New York Mets and other teams have also been mentioned. Many teams are short on starting pitching, which is why there is more interest. The market conditions made Yamamoto’s value even higher.
Yamamoto is ranked second in free agency behind the incomparable “superstar” Shohei Ohtani (29). He’s a first-round pick for any team. After undergoing surgery on his right elbow, Ohtani will only play as a hitter next season. The best pitcher next season.
Yamamoto and Orix manager Nakajima embrace after Game 6 of the Japan Series. Photo source=Oryx Buffaloes SNS
He is expected to sign a long-term contract for seven years or more, totaling more than $200 million, with an average annual salary of more than $30 million. It’s the most for a Japanese player since Masahiro Tanaka (35-Rakuten) signed a seven-year, $155 million deal with the New York Yankees a decade ago. Tanaka broke into the major leagues in 2013 with a 24-1 record and a 1.27 ERA. He was a monster that year, throwing eight complete games in 212 innings.
Yamamoto has been as good as Tanaka a decade ago. This season, he went 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA. He struck out 169 batters in 164 innings while giving up just two home runs and 28 walks. Tanaka was 78-46 with a 3.74 ERA in seven years with the Yankees.
Yamamoto boarded a flight to the United States with his family on July 15. He is expected to meet with Dodgers and Yankees officials during his stay. Yamamoto reportedly played golf with Lars Nutba (26, St. Louis), who represented Japan in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March.