After signing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to a record-setting contract worth $700 million over 10 years, the Dodgers’ front office focus now shifts over to starting pitching help. The team has been aggressive in trying to land help this winter, and they are linked with multiple different names around the league.
One of the bigger names that the team has been interested in is Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto has high interest around the league, and it is thought that a contract to land him could exceed $300 million.
The Dodgers could use Yamamoto as he would give them an ace-level pitcher. They need at least one front-line starter this winter, and Yamamoto would foot the bill.
But with the amount of teams that are going after him, it could be an uphill climb for LA. MLB Insider Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that Yamamoto met with the rival San Francisco Giants over the weekend.
The Giants have been trying to land a star for some time now, and with Ohtani off the table, their focus turns to Yamamoto. In addition to San Francisco, both New York teams and the Boston Red Sox are very interested in the right-hander.
He has electric stuff on the mound and is generally seen by most as the best pitcher to come out of Japan. It’s rare that the majority of the big market teams are fighting over the same player, but Yamamoto has a strong market.
Hopefully, he doesn’t end up with the Giants so LA doesn’t have to see him on the mound for years to come. The Dodgers are still seen as a top landing spot for him, despite the large contract given out to Ohtani. The hope is that LA can land Yamamoto to pair with Ohtani for the foreseeable future.
Photo Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
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