Yoshinobu Yamamoto Trade Price: 3 Teams That Can Go All In

According to SNY, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was in attendance on Saturday when Orix Buffaloes ace and potential free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a no-hitter against the Chiba Lotte Marines. According to SNY, scouting staff from the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Kansas City Royals were also present at Zozo Marine Stadium.

Yamamoto struck out eight hitters, walked two, and hit one in his second career no-hitter. It was also the 100th game in Japanese professional baseball history.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the most experienced Japanese pitcher to enter the market since Masahiro Tanaka in 2014. Many teams are now eager to engage in a bidding war to acquire the 25-year-old pitcher in the aim of strengthening their rotations and becoming contenders.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Trade Price: 3 Teams That Can Go All In

1) New York Yankees –

The New York Yankees are aware that they will need to make significant adjustments ahead of the 2024 MLB season, and they are apparently focused on one possibility in particular.

According to Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media, the Yankees are very interested in Japanese talent Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto, a 25-year-old Japanese pitching sensation, is expected to be released by the Orix Buffaloes this winter.

This is critical for two reasons: one, to keep Brian Cashman’s job assuming he isn’t dismissed at the end of the season, and two, because the fans want it. The Yankees have a track record of overpaying for Japanese free agents.

The Yankees’ sole definite starters for the 2024 season are Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and, if fit, Nestor Cortes.  They have two free-agent pitchers this offseason in Luis Severino and Frankie Montas, both of whom don’t bring much to the table.

Yamamoto pitched a no-hitter in front of Cashman and is anticipated to be heavily sought after by other clubs, notably the Boston Red Sox.

Yamamoto has pitched in the NPB for seven seasons and has a 1.84 ERA while striking out over a batter per inning. This season, he has a minuscule 1.32 ERA.

2) New York Mets–

The New York Mets allegedly had scouts at the most recent start of Japanese ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, whom many anticipate his club to release this winter and make available to Major League teams.

That start also occurred to be a no-hitter, the 100th in Japanese professional baseball history. In the win over the Chiba Lotte Marines, he struck out eight batters, walked two, and hit one.

They are ready to pay big on free agents, and Yamamoto may be a wonderful acquisition to team with Kodai Senga, producing one of the strongest one-two punches in MLB, especially given their Japanese heritage.

After dealing away talents like Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, the Mets now have a shaky starting rotation. The major starters for the 2024 season figure to be Kodai Senga, Jose Quintana, and Joey Lucchesi, who all have ERAs around 3.00 this season.

It would also make sense for the Mets to be active, given that they sent away two high-priced pitchers at the trade deadline in Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.

Yamamoto was allegedly scouted by general manager Billy Eppler earlier this season. Furthermore, the Mets have had a favorable experience with Kodai Senga this season.

Senga was signed by the Mets last summer for $75 million over five years and has proven to be their most effective starter. He has a 10-7 record with a 3.07 ERA, 181 strikeouts, and 70 walks. Batters are only hitting.209 against him.

According to Andy Martino of SNY, Mets general manager Billy Eppler visited Japan in 2023 to see Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Both Billy Eppler and Brian Cashman are on the hot seat, and unless they perform quickly, they may lose their jobs. Unlike the Yankees, though, the Mets have recently demonstrated a willingness to invest in the club, even if it means spending money.

3) Boston Red Sox–

The Boston Red Sox are largely considered to be among the most aggressive suitors for Japanese ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Yamamoto is anticipated to be released by the Orix Buffaloes and become a free agent this summer. The 25-year-old is expected to be one of the most sought-after starting pitchers on the market this summer. Boston has been mentioned as a likely destination, particularly with Yamamoto’s old colleague Masataka Yoshida on the squad.

According to USA Today Sports’ Bob Nightengale, he is likely to have a strong market and will allegedly earn a contract worth more than $160 million this summer.

The Red Sox play in one of the hardest divisions in baseball, with every team save them now above.500. This includes the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays, who have already clinched a playoff place, as well as the Toronto Blue Jays, who might do it shortly, and the New York Yankees, who are also contenders for Yamamoto.

The Red Sox signed Matsuzaka because allowing him to join with the Yankees would be detrimental to the team for years to come. Now, with Red Sox stars like Corey Kluber and James Paxton about to become free agents, as well as Adam Duvall, if they are not re-signed, they will have $27 million in salary available, which might be enough to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

https://twitter.com/Machine_Dreams_/status/1702411964217979303

Boston has lots of cash to spend, so this potential contract should not be too expensive for the team. The Red Sox are eager to return to the postseason and will almost certainly make at least one huge signing this winter. Yamamoto is the ideal candidate for a large investment. He has a 1.75 ERA in seven professional seasons while being only 25 years old. There is no way to predict how we will fare in Major League Baseball, but we are quite likely to be incredibly successful.

They also have Japanese slugger Masataka Yoshida on their roster, whom they acquired from the Orix Buffaloes, which might offer them an advantage in attempting to get Yamamoto because they were teammates.

This might be one of the final chances they have to make a postseason push with the current roster before free agents Kenley Jansen, Alex Verdugo, Nick Pivetta, and others become available following the 2024 season.

 

 

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