The Los Angeles Dodgers have pulled off something incredible, signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto to join their team.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have successfully secured the services of pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, signing him to an impressive 12-year contract valued at $325 million, according to Jeff Passan. Yamamoto, a highly sought-after talent, previously played for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball for seven seasons.
At 25 years old, Yamamoto is poised to start a new phase of his baseball career alongside fellow World Baseball Classic teammate Shohei Ohtani. Notably, Yamamoto has garnered significant recognition, winning the Eiji Sawamura Award for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023, akin to the Cy Young Award. His achievements include being one of just three players to secure three consecutive Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Awards, joining the esteemed company of Hisashi Yamada (1976 to 1978) and Ichiro Suzuki (1994 to 1996), as reported by MLB.com’s Michael Clair.
In accordance with the agreement between Major League Baseball and Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball regarding the posting system, the Dodgers will pay the Orix Buffaloes $50.625 million for acquiring Yoshinobu Yamamoto. It’s important to note that Yamamoto wasn’t considered an international free agent because he hadn’t completed nine years of professional experience.
The negotiation window for teams to talk with Yamamoto started on November 20th and closed on January 4th. Since the total guaranteed value of Yamamoto’s contract is over $50 million, the Dodgers will pay different percentages: 20% on the first $25 million, 17.5% on the next $25 million, and 15% on the remaining $275 million.
The Dodgers are having an exciting offseason! First, they added Ohtani, and now they’ve acquired a standout pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani’s contract is unique and gives the Dodgers flexibility. Yamamoto’s contract includes a $50 million signing bonus and special clauses, making it approximately $27 million each year for tax purposes.
But that’s not all – the Dodgers also brought in Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays. They signed him for five more years with a significant contract, averaging about $27 million each year for tax purposes. These moves are strengthening the Dodgers’ pitching team and bringing a lot of excitement to the team.
The New York Yankees were really hoping to bring Yoshinobu Yamamoto to their team to support their star pitcher, Gerrit Cole. They made a strong offer of around $300 million, but unfortunately, they didn’t succeed. Yamamoto’s new contract is now the highest ever for a pitcher in baseball, surpassing Cole’s deal by $1 million.
It’s worth noting that Cole can choose to leave his contract after the 2024 season, but the Yankees have the option to add another year to his contract at $36 million if they want, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. While Cole is doing great and might even make it to the Hall of Fame one day, the Yankees’ pitching team has faced challenges with injuries, disappointments, and decisions that didn’t work out well.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to join the Los Angeles Dodgers to play baseball against the world’s best. He’ll face different weather conditions compared to his previous stadium but will get support from Ohtani, play in front of big crowds at Dodger Stadium, and enjoy Southern California’s beauty.
Despite all the excitement, Yamamoto aims to perform well in Los Angeles and contribute to the team’s success alongside Ohtani. Known as a top pitcher, he uses five different pitches with precision, earning trust and confidence.
Yamamoto has a unique style and training methods, and though he’s not very tall, there’s confidence he’ll thrive in a challenging environment. In Japanese baseball, the number 18 is special, representing the ace of the rotation. It’s expected that Yamamoto will proudly wear this number, bringing a new era of great pitching for the Dodgers and joining a team of superstars