As the MLB offseason rolls on, 25-year-old Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto remains a free agent. While his timeline for making a decision remains unclear — he has until Jan. 4 to do so based on his posting window — he has no shortage of suitors interested in his services. Here is the latest from our writers who cover the seven teams reportedly in the mix.
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The Yankees were extremely impressed with Yamamoto the person, who embodied intelligence and confidence in their two meetings with him. He was clear that he wants to be able to operate his own way, the way he did in Japan — from his somewhat unorthodox training methods to his style of pitching. The Yankees felt positive in their conversations with him about wearing pinstripes, which at least touched on their history of Japanese stars who enjoyed playing in the Bronx (Ichiro Suzuki, Masahiro Tanaka, Hideki Matsui, Hiroki Kuroda).
The homework the Yankees have done on Yamamoto has been extensive, from sending a scout to every one of his starts last season to general manager Brian Cashman appearing in person in Japan to watch the no-hitter Yamamoto threw Sept. 9. The team also left available his No. 18 all last season. — Brendan Kuty
The Mets remain heavily in the mix after they have prioritized Yamamoto in a major way. Unlike other frontline starters, they’ve targeted Yamamoto as someone who can help them now and in the future and have therefore pursued him as hard as possible.
During the recruiting process, the Mets offered some personal touches. First, owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns flew to Japan to see Yamamoto and the star pitcher’s family. More recently, Yamamoto had dinner at Cohen’s home in Connecticut, where he met Cohen’s wife, Alex, and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. In addition to his pitching prowess, the Mets like Yamamoto as a person and competitor.
They’ve tried to do everything possible to make it clear they are the right spot for him. Yamamoto’s agent, Joel Wolfe, also represents Edwin Díaz and Kodai Senga. Of course, Senga transitioned well from Japan in his first season and finished second for NL Rookie of the Year. Senga’s success gives the Mets a tangible result and blueprint to show Yamamoto in a general way, but they also know both pitchers are different so the specifics for each will also be different.
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The biggest thing that could work in the Mets’ favor is Cohen’s potential willingness to spend more than anyone else — in the past, he has demonstrated a willingness to go where other owners haven’t. — Will Sammon
After introducing Shohei Ohtani earlier this month, the Dodgers hope to be able to do the same with Yamamoto this offseason. (Kirby Lee / USA Today)I made somewhat of a running bit early in the offseason. As it became clear the Dodgers were going to pursue both Shohei Ohtani and Yamamoto this winter, I’d ask folks I knew if it was crazy to see them landing both. After all, it looks like it could be a combined $1 billion commitment.
I never was told it was crazy.
Sure enough, Ohtani structured his Dodgers contract in a manner that not only made a Yamamoto pursuit feasible but also made signing him a real possibility. Ohtani was among the star-studded Dodgers contingent that met with Yamamoto at Dodger Stadium, and those in the meeting felt it went well. The Dodgers have coveted Yamamoto for years, and there wasn’t a player on the market this year — not even Ohtani — that more immediately addressed the Dodgers’ biggest need this winter: starting pitching. The Dodgers have the pedigree (Yamamoto himself grew up a Dodger fan), the resources and the desire to push themselves forward in a pursuit. — Fabian Ardaya
Shohei Ohtani might be baseball’s free-agent unicorn this winter but Yamamoto is another unique and mythical creature: a starting pitcher that Giants president Farhan Zaidi actually believes to be worth a franchise-altering, long-term contract. There is no overstating how much the Giants and Zaidi adore Yamamoto. He is their pattern for an ideal pitcher come to life: He suppresses damage, limits walks, possesses uncanny control of three premium pitches, and has the aptitude and youthfulness to become even better and better. The Giants also love a good splitter (Kevin Gausman, Alex Cobb) and Yamamoto might throw the best version in the world.
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Although their roster needs a lot of work, the Giants have the financial flexibility to sign Yamamoto and keep adding this winter — and they’d view a Logan Webb-Yamamoto combo atop the rotation as a strength that could help them level up fast in the rigorous NL West.
The word around the Giants for months has been that if they miss out on Yamamoto, it won’t be because their offer was light. They have the twin goals of positioning themselves to contend while also adding sizzle to a roster that played uninspired baseball the past two seasons in front of dwindling crowds. Yamamoto, with his gymnastic back bends and crazy hip and shoulder mobility, could make the Giants appointment viewing again — just like Tim Lincecum did was when he burst onto the scene in 2007. The Giants have become conditioned to free-agent disappointment while falling short in pursuit of Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, and now Ohtani. But there’s no numbing the pain if they fall short in the Yamamoto pursuit. According to those familiar with Zaidi’s thinking, he has never been so all-in on a free agent in his six years while leading the Giants’ baseball operations group. — Andrew Baggarly
As the Yamamoto sweepstakes reach a boiling point, the Red Sox remain very much in the mix. Perhaps of any team in this race for the top free-agent starter, they are feeling the heat the most after last-place finishes in three of their previous four seasons. Red Sox chairman Tom Werner promised a “full throttle” offseason and a mega-deal for Yamamoto would signal that. So far this offseason, Boston has yet to deliver on that message.
The Red Sox have not shelled out a contract for a free-agent pitcher in excess of $200 million — as Yamamoto is expected to receive — since signing David Price in 2016. If they want to return to contention in the uber-competitive AL East, Yamamoto would be a huge step in that direction. The Red Sox have been scouting Yamamoto for years as he was teammates on the Orix Buffaloes alongside Masataka Yoshida, who the Red Sox signed last winter to a five-year, $90 million deal.
The Red Sox may not have gotten a second in-person interview after the initial meeting with him in Los Angeles last week, but team sources still feel confident in their pursuit of him. There is a belief the team is willing to go outside its comfort zone for a deal with Yamamoto, but how far outside that comfort zone remains the question. Yamamoto has taken a very deliberate approach in researching teams he’s interested in and the Red Sox may offer some enticing intangibles.
In addition to playing alongside his good friend Yoshida, the Red Sox have three Japanese-speaking members of their training staff. Yamamoto’s mobility routine is a key aspect of his training regimen and while it’s a small detail, it could go a long way. However, money talks and the Red Sox have been quiet of late. If they’ve been holding out for anyone, Yamamoto is the one on which to splurge. — Jen McCaffrey
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies making it this far in the process is something of a surprise, although it’s unclear how strong their odds are of actually signing Yamamoto. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has said numerous times his five-man rotation is set; the Phillies signed Aaron Nola for $172 million earlier this offseason. The Phillies will have the club’s highest payroll ever in 2024 and, at various times this offseason, Dombrowski has cautioned against the idea that they could add another star player.
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“We’ll continue to talk to people and investigate if we can get better,” Dombrowski said earlier this month. “I think there’s something we’ll do over a time period. But it may not be signing Trea Turner for the type of dollars we talked about last year.”
And, still, the Phillies have made an offer to Yamamoto.
They have been interested in him for months. They have increased their scouting presence in Japan over the last two years. But they have never signed a player to a major-league contract directly from Japan. They have not had a Japanese player on their roster since 2009 and, if “fit” is important to Yamamoto, that will be a consideration. Yamamoto did not visit Philadelphia this month as he conducted meetings with teams. The Phillies, throughout this process, have not been quite sure if their interest in Yamamoto was reciprocated. They likely will not be the highest bidders. All of that is working against them in this free-agent pursuit. But Dombrowski has a track record of landing stars and unwavering support from ownership, so the Phillies’ presence is at least notable at this stage. — Matt Gelb
The Blue Jays don’t need a frontline starter like some other teams on this list do. They have a full rotation with an ace in Kevin Gausman, though obviously, Alek Manoah carries question marks after his disappointing 2023. Realistically, this club needs bats — and impactful ones. But if the Blue Jays are making a play for Yamamoto, it’s because the front office is keen to make a splash this offseason and is running out of ways to do so after missing out on Ohtani and Juan Soto.
Yamamoto would be a fit in Toronto. He’s a unique pitcher, though he shares some characteristics with Gausman and fellow Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt. The Blue Jays also have Yusei Kikuchi, a fellow Japanese pitcher who might be able to help ease Yamamoto’s transition to North America. Acquiring Yamamoto doesn’t fill the holes in their lineup, but adding him to their already strong rotation could open up avenues to trade from their starting depth to acquire those impact bats. Toronto isn’t the favourite to sign Yamamoto, and, arguably, their resources might be better used elsewhere. Still, the Blue Jays need to make a statement this offseason and this would qualify as one. — Kaitlyn McGrath
(Top photo of Yamamoto: Daniel Shirey / WBCI / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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