Yoshinobu Yamamoto Facing Yankees, Who Were ‘Disappointed’ He Signed With Dodgers

New York Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake reminisced about the moments leading up to the first meeting with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Blake and manager Aaron Boone sat on the rooftop of the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and they pondered how long the free agent would stay in Los Angeles.

Yamamoto met with the Yankees at his agent Casey Wasserman’s mansion in L.A., doing everything possible to persuade the Japanese pitcher to consider beginning his Major League Baseball career in New York.

Blake returned home thinking that the Yankees were in the running but would need Yamamoto to visit New York to close the deal.

Hal Steinbrenner’s best offer to Yamamoto was 10 years, $300 million. It was $25 million less than the offer made by the Dodgers, who eventually signed him for 12 years, $325 million. However, the decision wasn’t based solely on money. Yamamoto wanted to play in Los Angeles.

“We were disappointed, certainly, because we put time into it,” Blake told The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner of his reaction when he learned Yamamoto was signing with the Dodgers. “You’re really hoping this guy could help you. He’s obviously a very talented player that you’d like to have on your team, but I don’t think (we were) surprised. You knew it was coming down to a few teams and just a matter of whether he wanted to be on the West Coast.”

The Yankees will face the pitcher they wanted in pinstripes on Friday night. His 3.32 ERA would be the fourth-worst in the Yankees’ rotation, but they still wish they had him.

Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

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