Japanese Ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto Signs 12-Year, $325 Million Deal with L.A. Dodgers
Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has officially signed a hefty 12-year, $325 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 25-year-old is set to join Shohei Ohtani and power up the Dodgers even further this offseason.
For weeks, MLB high rollers and the New York Mets and Yankees have been trying to win the sweepstakes for the highly coveted free agent. The NPB ace, CBS Sports’ No. 2 free agent this winter, also won the league’s MVP and Cy Young equivalents in each of the last three seasons. Yamamoto has an impressive command over a solid arsenal, including a mid-90s fastball, a swing-and-miss splitter, and a quality curveball that make him desirable to MLB talent evaluators.
Although the Dodgers have successfully secured Yamamoto, there are some potential risk factors, including the fact that he has never pitched in MLB, he is relatively shorter than most MLB pitchers, and the inherent injury risks that come with being a pitcher. Despite these variables, Yamamoto checks nearly all the boxes to be a successful MLB starting pitcher.
The fact that Yamamoto has not pitched in MLB is a common argument against offering such high-dollar amounts, given his inexperience in the league. However, teams are showing increased appetite for gambling on inexperienced players, especially from NPB pitchers who are historically known for their excellent transition to MLB.
As for the risk factor regarding Yamamoto’s height, he stands at just 5-foot-10, which is considered relatively short for a starting pitcher. Additionally, there is inherent risk in investing in pitchers given their vulnerability to injuries. However, the Dodgers are making the expensive bet on Yamamoto’s talent and productivity in the majors.
Overall, Yamamoto’s massive payday reflects the fact that even with the potential concerns, he stands out as an impact starter for the Dodgers heading into the new MLB season.