Dodgers Rumors: Rival Giants Met With Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Sunday
After signing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to a record-setting 10-year, $700 million contract, the focus within the Dodgers’ front office can shift to starting pitching. They have reportedly been aggressive in trying to land help this winter, having been linked to multiple names.
Among the biggest names to draw their interest: Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto has high interest around the league, and it’s been speculated his next contract could exceed $300 million.
The Dodgers could use Yamamoto, whom scouts consider the most talented pitcher to come out of Japan this year — possibly ever. They need at least one front-line starter this winter, and Yamamoto would foot the bill.
But with the number of teams expected to offer Yamamoto a contract, the countdown to his Jan. 4 deadline to sign could be an uphill climb. ESPN’s Buster Olney is reporting Yamamoto has already met with the rival San Francisco Giants.
The Giants have been trying to land a star for some time now. With Ohtani off the table, the Dodgers’ focus will turn to Yamamoto. Both New York teams and the Boston Red Sox are reportedly interested in the right-hander, as well.
The right-hander has electric stuff on the mound, vaulting him to the top of the free agent starting pitching crop. The majority of the big-market teams don’t always engage in a bidding war for the same player, but Yamamoto’s market appears to be strong.
The Dodgers are still seen as a top landing spot for him, even with Ohtani’s contract costing an estimated $46 million toward the competitive balance tax. The hope is that LA can land Yamamoto to pair with Ohtani for the foreseeable future. If he ends up with the Giants — unlike his other reported suitors — the Dodgers would face the prospect of seeing Yamamoto on the other side for years to come.
Photo Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
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I’m kind of impressed with Shooey’s interest in being creative, as well as financially shrewd in securing his future without handcuffing the teams ability to continually surround him with talent today. Of course, no one can guarantee tomorrow. God bless the man.
Hopefully he will use the Dodgers money for good and help people. When he retires, that is when he will handcuff the team, and when that happens, who cares? I get it. At the end of the day, if the Dodgers don’t secure some pitching, Shooey, Mooks and Frinkman will get swept out of the playoffs again by the next hungry band of bona-fide, not impressed by the hype baseball players.