Dodgers Rumors: LA Among Betting Favorites to Sign Japanese Superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto
As the Dodgers enter into the offseason, they have one clear area that they have to address this winter, and that would be starting pitching. The team duck-taped together their rotation throughout this past season, and when the calendar shifted to October, everything fell apart.
The way the Dodgers were going about things through the season wasn’t sustainable, but it was the reality of where the team was at the moment. But now, LA has a chance to turn things around to bring back a position of strength from their starters.
Right now, the Dodgers have two for sure guys in the rotation for next season. That would be Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller. Buehler is coming off Tommy John Surgery, and nobody knows exactly how he will perform. And Miller will be entering his second season in the majors, so the need for the team is clear.
One name that would vastly help LA is Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who should be posted to come to the big leagues this winter. Yamamoto is going to be one of the more heavily wanted free-agent pitchers, but the Dodgers seem to have a good chance of landing him.
According to BetOnline.AG, LA has the third-best chance to sign him. They sit at 6/1 odds, right behind both of the New York teams for his services.
Yamamoto would be a game-changer for the Dodgers if they were to get him, as he dominated the NPB throughout his career. Last season he posted an ERA of 1.11 with 169 strikeouts over 164 innings of work.
He has dominated hitters in Japan and now wants to test his hand at the big leagues. His stuff should translate over, and he is still only 25 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to grow with whatever team signs him.
His command is one of his best attributes, and it has allowed him to navigate through lineups. And his fastball has been out of this world effective over his career.
He would give the Dodgers rotation a major boost, and apparently, he is very high on their wish list. Yamamoto isn’t a sure thing, but many players who have come over from Japan have seen great careers, and he seems to be the best pitcher who will be entering the MLB.
LA needs to make a big move in their rotation this year, and Yamamoto could be the very move to build out this pitching staff.
Photo Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
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Unfortunately, the dodgers starting pitching roster is injury prone. Miller is not a proven starter. They not only need to sign Yamamoto, they also should sign Snell. Hopefully, there will be a couple of other starters that can step up and pitch a whole season and post season.
Duct*-taped
Observant grammarians like you, Don, really quack me up. The way you conduck yourselves in these fora will attract a flock of admirerers. Overwhelmed, you might migrate away from your nest and seek solace in listening to relaxing ‘sounds of nature’ recordings. I am particularly de-stressed when I block out intrusive noises and listen to the soothing sounds of bird calls and water sounds; my wife calls them my duck tapes.
Consider my advice and buy the ducking tapes. Unteal then, you will continue just as you are.