MLB Executives Expect Dodgers Target Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Pitch In New York Next Season
Free agency is a full-go, and your Los Angeles Dodgers are set to have a massive one that could set them up for a tremendous 2024 season. No matter how loaded they may have seemed, the Boys in Blue need some starting pitching. That was evident before the trade deadline, and that was certainly evident in the postseason.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has expressed a desire to acquire starting pitching this offseason, whether via trade or free agency. One pitcher they have their eye on is Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who just became available to negotiate with teams at 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
Yamamoto is on many teams’ radars; however, he may only prefer teams on the East Coast, at least according to MLB executives.
MLB insider Bob Nightengale wrote that two MLB executives believe the 25-year-old free agent prefers the two New York clubs.
“Yamamoto, unlike Shohei Ohtani, clamors to pitch in a large market, two executes say, predicting that he will pitch for the Yankees or Mets.”
via USA Today
According to FOX Sports, the New York Mets have the best odds to land the righty pitcher at +220. Another East Coast team, the Boston Red Sox, is next at +400, and your Los Angeles Dodgers round off the top three at +450. The New York Yankees are right behind the Dodgers at +550.
Yamamoto has yet to speak to a team, but that is all set to change this Thanksgiving week, as ESPN reports the negotiating window is set to start on Tuesday. Things are heating up in the racing for the other Japanese sensation that will propel a team’s rotation next season.
Hopefully, that team is the Dodgers, but we’ll have to wait and see if he genuinely wants to be on the East Coast or come west and don the blue and white.
Photo Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
First article says he prefers the west coast. This article says he prefers the east coast. Insiders, my a$$.
At least half of the so called “insiders” just make up stuff that they think will stir up people to read their blogs or posts and attract attention. I take most of it with a grain of salt, and I think the best thing someone can do is simply look at the teams needs and their GMs past history in offering contracts and making trades, as well as the teams payroll projections to see what they might be interested in until the formal announcement is made. Besides that, the players agents also make up interest in “mystery” or a “new” team that’s made a “substantial” offer in order to push the real offers higher.
We have no starting pitchers now except for rookies who may not be ready/or MLB quality. Walker Buehler just had surgery, may not be what he once was. The outlook is bleak unless Friedman gets to work and brings in 3 pitchers minimum. We need 2 aces like Yamamoto and Sonny Gray if we want a chance in the post season.