MLB Insider Doubles Down On Dodgers Desire To Sign Both Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Entering the offseason, the Dodgers are expected to be one of the more aggressive teams around the league. They want to upgrade their roster from a year ago, with the main priority being to improve their starting rotation.
The Dodgers have plenty of options to do so, and they have been linked to multiple top-tier guys already. But one player that they are very interested in is Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was just posted to start negotiating with teams.
Yamamoto is seen as the best pitcher to come from Japan, and the Dodgers would land an ace-level pitcher if they signed him. But in addition to Yamamoto, the Dodgers have made it no secret that they plan to go after two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, as well.
Ohtani looks like the priority at this point, but it has been reported that the Dodgers want to land both players. And MLB insider Jon Heyman threw some gas onto the speculative fire while appearing on MLB Network.
“Dodgers love Yamamoto. They are the one team really thinking maybe we can sign both Yamamoto and Ohtani. That would be interesting.”
Per Jon Heyman via MLB Network
If the Dodgers were to sign both players, it would be seen as them going truly all-in. Fans have been clamoring for them to make moves like this for a while now, and it would be received by the fanbase extremely well.
Ohtani would bring the star power and give LA a great designated hitter for 2024. And going forward, he plans to return to the mound in 2025 after recovering from a torn UCL.
Yamamoto would be the front-line starter that the Dodgers have been looking for, and they could build their rotation around him for years. He is just 25 years old, so there is plenty of time to grow his game.
The Dodgers are seen as major players for both guys, but it remains to be seen if they will land either one of them. However, if they were to get even one of them, the team would be set up extremely well for the present and the future.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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Whom ever the Dodgers sign first could tempt either Ohtani or Yamamoto to join the other considering they’re both from Japan and they were both on Japan’s national team who won the WBC and since they’re both free agents the would still be to trade for some highly productive players and having both Ohtani and Yamamoto already those players would OK a trade to the Dodgers
All the rumors about the Dodgers chasing the free agents ends up making Friedman look bad. He is interested in anyone that can help the team but the expectations are driven to a point where he looks like he failed if he doesn’t live up to all the hype.
Does anyone really believe he will sign Snell, Yamamoto, Ohtani, and trade for Byrnes and Cease and Adames and Trout?
Trout does not make sense. Cease seems to be regressing. Adames is not necessarily better than Lux. Snell would be good, but maybe he is not needed if they sign Yamamoto and then make a trade or two, Glasnow or Burnes, both with the expectation of being one year only players until they leave as free agents. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays don’t want to pay Glasnow $25 million in his last contract year and get nothing when he leaves. Milwaukee may not want to get nothing for Burnes when he leaves after 2024 as a free agent. These pitchers could be had in trades for young talent. The Dodgers could get better if they stop thinking about signing injured relief pitchers. Will they focus on another injured relief pitcher instead of Ohtani and Yamamoto?
I agree Trout makes no sense and Cease does not have a track record of excellence and has lost velocity. Spending young talent such as Sheehan for a 1 year rental is risky unless they have an agreement they can immediately extend the contract of one of pitchers mentioned, Burnes, Glasnow etc.
I like a 24 rotation of an ace be it Yamamoto, Gray, Burnes or ??? and our young guys Buehler,, Miller and Pepiot backed up with all the young pitchers in the minors and on the roster.
Lux should make a big difference at SS as that position was barely above the Mendoza line last year for the Dodgers.
They will both sign with the Cubs and hook up with Suzuki.
Ohtani and Yamamoto will sign with the Dodgers and create a new era in baseball. The game is ripe for international expansion, resulting a true World Series. They can share the challenge of learning English together.