The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially signed RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year deal. The team made the announcement on Wednesday.
The Dodgers made the announcement without announcing a corresponding 40-man roster move — the team still needs to made room for Yamamoto on the roster. You can click here to read about some of those options.
Here’s Yamamoto’s statement on joining the team, per the Dodgers:
“I’d like to thank everyone in the Orix organization, the Dodger organization and all the people close to me who have given me so much support throughout this free-agent process,” said Yamamoto. “I am truly excited to wear Dodger Blue and can’t wait to play in front of a packed Dodger Stadium.”
President and CEO Stan Kasten had this to say:
“This is a great day for the Dodgers and Guggenheim Baseball Management. It is also a major milestone for baseball to have Yoshinobu Yamamoto come from Japan to the United States, bringing a level of talent and promise that has captured the imagination of baseball fans worldwide,” said Stan Kasten, Los Angeles Dodgers President and CEO of Guggenheim Baseball Management. “Reuniting with his former Team Japan teammate Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu is poised to have a remarkable impact on and off the field in Los Angeles – as well as to further MLB’s ongoing efforts toward making baseball a great global game. We are thrilled he has chosen the Dodgers and honored to have him.”
And finally, from president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman:
“We could not be more excited to bring Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the Dodgers,” said Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations, Los Angeles Dodgers. “You don’t win three MVP awards by the age of 25 without an exceptional combination of talent, work ethic and mental toughness. He’s an elite pitcher with an impressive dedication to his craft who will only become more dynamic in a Dodger uniform. We are thrilled for him to be a mainstay at the top of our starting rotation for years to come.”
When is Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Introductory Press Conference?
As previously reported, Yamamoto’s introductory press conference is occurring at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 3:00 p.m. PT. It will be 8:00 a.m. in Japan.