U.S. media outlets have selected the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and New York Mets as active teams against Yamamoto. All three of them are rich teams known as the “big markets.” They spend a lot of money. The Dodgers boasted of their wealth by securing Shohei Ohtani, 29, the biggest free agent in the FA, for 10 years and 700 million dollars, while the Yankees have traditionally been nicknamed the “Empire of Evil” by sweeping away top players in the Major League by banking on their capital. The Mets are backed by billionaire owner Steve Cohen. All three teams are second to none in terms of money. As they are rushing to catch Yamamoto, the expected ransom has soared to around 200 million dollars to 300 million dollars.
The U.S. media “Yahoo Sports” reported on the 19th (Korea time) that “two teams in New York are still working hard to recruit Yamamoto.” Yamamoto, one of the top FA players this offseason, met with both Yankees and Mets officials over the weekend. According to the New York Post, the owner of the Mets Cohen team invited Yamamoto to his home in Connecticut on the 17th, and there was a meeting with Yankees officials on the 18th.
The Dodgers invited Yamamoto to Dodger Stadium on the 13th and prepared a grand presentation for the recruitment. The MVP trio Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, who boast a total ransom of 1.227 billion dollars, were all called to the presentation to persuade Yamamoto. Betts is also famous as Yamamoto’s favorite major leaguer. He did his best by singing catcher Will Smith to match the battery, and displaying photos and phrases welcoming Yamamoto on the stadium’s electronic display.
Yamamoto is a special ace who dominated the Japanese professional baseball league at a young age of 25. He pitched in 172 games of the NPB and recorded 70 wins and 29 losses, 897 innings, 922 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.82. He has already enjoyed all the glory that he can enjoy in Japan, winning the Sawamura Award for the third consecutive year and four gold medals in a row. He naturally turned to the U.S. and wants to spend time proving himself on the stage where world-class players play. In line with Yamamoto’s commitment, the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets are all jumping in to increase their value.
MLB.com analyzed the eight teams that fit Yamamoto best, and picked the Yankees as the No. 1 player. MLB.com said, “The Yankees haven’t made much moves this winter yet. It’s hard to say that it’s a disappointing winter because we signed Juan Soto in a trade, but there’s still a little feeling for the Yankees that it can’t be right now in 2024. Soto will be eligible for the FA after this season, and Gerrit Cole will be 33 and Aaron Judge will be 32 next April.”
“This year, the Yankees left many pitchers behind by acquiring Soto and Alex Verdugo in a trade deal. Both Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes Jr. have to be healthy and productive. If we don’t do everything we can to win, including adding Yamamoto, during the year we hired Soto in a trade deal, it will not be helpful now or in the future,” he added. “It will only become clear that the Yankees played the Yankees.”
The Mets came in at No. 3. MLBcom said, “With many rich teams, including New York rival Yankees, entering the race to recruit Yamamoto, the Mets should win the bid to maintain the aura surrounding Cohen’s owner. When Cohen bought the Mets, he had an unspoken promise that he could get all the stars the Mets wanted with his money. If he loses the race to recruit Yamamoto, there will be problems with that perception. Yamamoto is also necessary for the Mets’ mound. Currently, the Mets’ starting rotation includes Godai Senga, Jose Quintana, Luis Severino, Tyler Megill, and Joey Lucchesi, but only Sena is under contract after next season. There will be good starting pitchers next off-season, but there will be no better players than Yamamoto now.” 에볼루션 바카라사이트
Dodgers ranked fifth, the lowest ever. MLBcom said, “The Dodgers is trying to establish a dynasty. Betts, Freeman, and Ohtani are in the lineup. What they don’t have right now is a superstar who is on the pitcher’s side (like the MVP trio). They recently acquired Tyler Glasnow in a trade, and when Ohtani returns from 2025, he could become almost as close as a pitcher. However, one ace will lead the team to beat the Dodgers for several years to come. Clayton Kershaw is in the twilight of his career, and there is no guarantee that he will pitch for the Dodgers next season. Walker Buehler said that he will become a free agent next year.
Yamamoto can be a key player. Yamamoto is already a Japanese player. He won the Sawamura Award in Japan, and won the MVP award and the Triple Crown. Now he can be the next Kershaw in the Dodgers. Yamamoto is four years younger than Ohtani and five years younger than Glasnow, so he has ample potential to become the ace pitcher of the Dodgers in the long run.