MLB Insider Says Yoshinobu Yamamoto Sweepstakes Down to 3 Teams, Including Dodgers
Winter meetings start next week, and knowing which teams are in play for which players is important. In a recent interview with Dodgers Nation’s own Doug McKain, Bob Nightengale revealed who he believes is still in on one of the biggest free agent names in Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
“I think it’s down to the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets. I have a hard time believing it’ll be anyone else.”
Bob Nightengale Via Dodgers Nation YouTube Channel
As for how much he’ll make.
“It’ll certainly pass $200 million. I think he’ll be the highest free agent pitcher out there. I think he’ll beat Blake Snell. But yeah, everybody wants this guy.”
Bob Nightengale Via Dodgers Nation YouTube Channel
At this stage in free agency, everyone knows that Yoshinobu Yamamato sits atop the pitching market. Since he is 25 years old, he could stabilize a rotation for years to come. However, his services, as Nightengale points out, will not come cheaply, as 25-year-old pitchers with elite stuff do not grow on trees, and they certainly do not hit free agency very often. With the way posting fees work, only teams that have the capital, and the desire, to pay them will stay in on Yamamoto.
Below is a quick breakdown of posting fees:
- $0 – $25MM accrues a flat 20% fee
- – $25MM – $50MM accrues the flat 20% fee for the first $25MM and an additional %17.5 fee for each dollar over $25MM
- – $50MM+ accrues the same fees as above plus an additional %17.5 fee for each dollar over $50MM
This makes Nightengale’s theory of the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets vying for Yamamoto make sense. All three of these teams have the financial flexibility to sign Yamamoto. Additionally, they have the financial backing to pay the posting fee.
Hopefully, the Dodgers come out atop this race. A rotation consisting of Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller, and Ryan Pepiot would excite every fan.
Photo Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
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Would the entire amount be unconditionally guaranteed?
Contracts come in all shapes and sizes. Remember Kenta Maeda’s contract was full of incentives. The posting fees are non negotiable but they csn iffer any type of contract they want.
So it the posting fee part of the salary cap? Sounds like it’s not.
The another reason the Dodgers really need to get this done.
Here we go again the Dodgers trying to buy up the entire free agent market in an attempt to win the World Series!! They’ll spend all that money and choke AGAIN!! It takes more than a team of high priced stars to win a championship.
not really, you must be a padres or giants fan, dodgers didn’t sign anybody last year, even though they needed starting pitching which doomed them in the playoffs, they exercised restrain for this offseason where the generational players are available, other than that they focus on the draft, developing players and reclamation projects, andrew friedman is shrewd coming from the tampa bay moneyball organization
Yes, who tried to buy a WS last year and couldn’t even stay above .500 most of the year?
WTF, you definitely have no idea what you’re talking about. The Dodgers have never done that even though by all rights they should have.
I really dislike D*mb MFer’s that have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about, all they know how to do is hate and run their mouths because their team can’t compete.
They don’t have that winning gene when it comes to the playoffs.
Kershaw is the purest example
What’s ridiculous is even though he’s a top prospect, who has been playing against? We are talking about Millions of Dollars a Year here and I’ve been around long enough to see that nobody is great until they prove it on the field! And in the past there has been many terrible player’s that were paid Million of Dollars and did Africa Nothing to earn it! Hey in today’s market I guess you need a Great Agent that will make you Wealthy without proving it?
I agree. There must be a clause about producing and/or injuries.
I see too many players playing a year at the high pay then they fizzle, why not? They will be paid millions regardless, why hurt themselves.
Hopefully bite me! Let’s go Mets!
I agree with Jon, they bring World Series possi ilities e ery year. What other team does that?
Braves
Yamamoto to the Red Sox! Mark my words….