Yoshinobu Yamamoto Turned Down Higher AAV Offer From Yankees to Join Dodgers
Highly-coveted free agent starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto ended speculation of where he was going to sign late Thursday night, as it was announced that he would join the Dodgers. The 12-year, $325 million contract that he agreed to with L.A. is the largest in total value for a pitcher in baseball history.
The signing of Yamamoto gives the Dodgers a true front-line, ace-level pitcher for years to come. He is just 25 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to continue growing his game.
While the deal is historic for Yamamoto, it was reported that he picked the Dodgers over a higher annual average value from competing teams. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the New York Yankees offered him a deal with fewer years, but it would have given him more money per year. The deal was 10 years, $300 million.
“The Yankees offered Yamamoto a higher average annual value than the Dodgers, an earlier opt-out and more money in the first five years, according to sources briefed on the respective proposals.”
Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic
It seems that in the end, Yamamoto just wanted to become a member of the Dodgers. It was reported earlier in the free agent process that he grew up a fan of the Dodgers, which possibly played in him joining the team.
“A comparison of the teams’ offers lends credence to the notion that Yamamoto simply might have preferred the Dodgers to any other club.”
Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic
Yamamoto joins a Dodgers team that also landed two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani earlier in the winter. Ohtani helped recruit Yamamoto to join the Dodgers, as the World Baseball Classic teammates are reunited in Los Angeles.
L.A. now has strength in their starting rotation once again, after struggling all of last season. Yamamoto represents the Dodgers’ front office putting together a great offseason, and they may not be done just yet either.
Photo Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
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