The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to dominate the 2023 MLB offseason. On Thursday, they reportedly agreed to a deal with Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The contract is reported to be for over $300 million, making Yamamoto the ace of the Dodgers for the foreseeable future. MLB insider Jack Curry of YES was first to report the news.
Yamamoto was widely seen as the top starting pitcher on the market, and he’s now coming to the Dodgers in a monumental move, joining two-way superstar and WBC teammate Shohei Ohtani.
The Japanese superstar had tons of suitors, with reportedly over half the league reaching out to him after he was posted in November.
As the process went on, seven teams emerged as true finalists, and the Dodgers and the New York teams were seen as the frontrunners.
However, in the end, he reportedly chose to sign with the Dodgers, in what could become one of the biggest deals in franchise history. Ohtani played a big role in recruiting Yamamoto to Los Angeles, similar to how he recruited Tyler Glasnow to L.A.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Scouting Report
Yamamoto is just 25 years old, and has dominated the NPB in Japan for the last seven seasons. He’s won three straight Sawamura awards — the NPB’s version of the Cy Young — and has a career 1.82 ERA in 897 innings.
Last year, Yamamoto pitched 164 innings to the tune of a 1.21 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 6.3.
He ended his NPB career with a 138-pitch, complete-game, one-hitter in which he struck out 14 batters to keep his team’s season alive in the Japan Series.
Yamamoto has a fastball, curveball and splitter, and has absolutely filthy stuff that makes him virtually unhittable at times.
Dodgers Starting Rotation With Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Yamamoto will instantly become the ace of the Dodgers’ staff, and be in that position for a long time. At just 25 years old, he will headline the L.A. rotation for the foreseeable future.
In the immediate, Yamamoto will lead a Dodgers rotation that recently acquired Glasnow. Additionally, they will be welcoming back Walker Buehler, and have Bobby Miller ready to take on a bigger role in his second year.
What’s Next for the Dodgers Following the Signing of Yoshinobu Yamamoto?
The Dodgers have now signed the two best players in free agency in Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani. They not only have the two best players of this year’s class, but they also have two of the best players to ever come out of Japan.
The Dodgers also added Glasnow, shoring up a rotation that desperately needed the help. As of right now, the 2024 rotation looks like this:
Yoshinobu YamamotoTyler GlasnowWalker BuehlerBobby MillerEmmet Sheehan/Ryan Yarbrough/Gavin Stone
The Dodgers could still look to upgrade that No. 5 starter spot — they have a very righty-heavy rotation right now.
However, with the $1 billion worth of money shelled out to Ohtani and Yamamoto, don’t expect them to be very active in the free agent market anymore.
The Dodgers have signed the two best players in free agency, and have put together a star-studded roster ready to dominate for years to come.
The Dodgers officially have their ace of the future in superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto, to go along with their face of the franchise on Shohei Ohtani.
After sitting out the 2022-23 offseason, Andrew Friedman and co. delivered on all their promises to Dodger fans. Next up: Some postseason success.
Photo Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports