Dodgers Rumored Offseason Target Yoshinobu Yamamoto Makes Huge Step in MLB Future
One of the biggest free agents on the market is now officially available for teams to sign. Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been officially posted to join the MLB this offseason, and the race to land him will be tight.
“Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be allowed to move to a Major League Baseball team under the player posting system, the Orix Buffaloes said Sunday after the team lost Game 7 of the Japan Series to the Hanshin Tigers. The ace pitcher has been widely reported to be ready to move to MLB and is expected to be a top target.”
Per ESPN.com
He will have no shortage of suitors this offseason, and he is expected to receive a massive contract upon entering the league. Yamamoto is a true game-changer, and any club would be happy to have him toward the front of their rotation.
The Dodgers are expected to make a solid run at him, and the hope is that they can land his services. Being only 25 years old, Yamamoto could give LA an ace-level pitcher for years to come, and it would help bolster their rotation moving forward.
This past year for the Buffalos, Yamamoto went 16-6 with an ERA of 1.21. He also struck out 169 batters over 164 innings of work.
Over the weekend, he was special in helping his team stay alive in the Japan Series, striking out 14 batters in a game-six win. Teams got their final chance to scout Yamamoto and he didn’t disappoint one bit.
Yamamoto uses a mixture of pitches to get his opponents out, and his command is one of his top qualities. This should translate over to the big leagues well, and teams are excited for the chance to sign him this winter.
Hopefully, when all the dust settles, the Dodgers will be the ones who come out on top of the bidding war for his services. He would be an incredible get for LA, and this is a move that many fans are looking towards this offseason.
Photo Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
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Yamamoto yes!…….Ohtani no!
Are there any interest in finding a few Latino pitchers, like the ones that we saw playing in the post season?
After throwing a complete game with 138 pitches, will he be happy with the current MLB philosophy of 5-6 innings and 80 pitches for starters? I guess if he’s paid enough.