Losing Out On Yoshinobu Yamamoto Is a Blessing In Disguise For the Yankees
By Derek McAdam
December 27, 2023
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Over the years, there have been plenty of free agency battles that the New York Yankees have entered. They have won some, but have also lost out on many. The most recent loss was for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the 25-year old phenom pitcher from Japan whose stats look as if they come from a video game. The Los Angeles Dodgers won his services, signing him to a 12-year, $325 million contract, which does not include the posting fee of more than $50 million that the team will have to pay to Yamamoto’s former team in Japan.
The Dodgers have landed the biggest prize in the off-season, and possibly ever, in Shohei Ohtani. Between these two players, the Dodgers are committing more than $1 billion over at least the next decade, an amount that not even the Yankees have reached for two players. While the Dodgers are celebrating this signing as a major boost to their starting rotation, Yankee fans should not be upset about not acquiring him for several reasons.
First, the Yankees made a strong offer for Yamamoto, which was reported to be at 10-years, $300 million with some opt-outs in the deal. In terms of AAV, it was nearly $3 million more per year, although the contract was two years less. But the Yankees did not skimp on this offer like they have for others. Although it is probably a good thing that the Yankees were unable to sign this player, Patrick Corbin is the first name that comes to mind, as the Yankees offered significantly less money than the Washington Nationals.
Offering a contract that would make Yamamoto the fourth current player on the team that have a $300+ million contract, along with Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton, is not cheap, so Cashman definitely gets a pass on that argument.
The second reason, and possibly the most important, is that it seems as if Yamamoto had his mind made up that he was going to be a Dodger and used the market to drive his price up. There’s nothing wrong with using this tactic, especially if it involves the Yankees or, now, the New York Mets. After all, for most players, it’s about getting as much money as they possibly can.
But another reason why he may have chosen the Dodgers is its proximity to Japan. Traveling from New York as opposed to Los Angeles is an extra five hours tacked on, which makes a big difference when making a flight across the Pacific. I surely would want to be as close as I could to my family, so I understand that reasoning.
Also, playing on the Dodgers is going to be much easier for fans in Japan to watch their games. Additionally, the TV audience in Japan for Dodger games will also skyrocket because of Ohtani joining the team. Yamamoto may have thought that his own exposure would greatly benefit by playing for the Dodgers, and if he thought that, he’d be absolutely right.
Last, and possibly the most important reason not to get upset over losing out on Yamamoto, is that the Yankees would have been tied up in a long-term deal for a player that has yet to throw a single pitch in the Majors. The Yankees last signing straight from the Japanese league was Masahiro Tanaka, who gave the team seven good seasons.
However, there is always a risk with these types of signings. While Japan is probably the second best country to play professional baseball in, it is still a step below the Major Leagues. Some players come over and light up the league, like Ohtani, while some never make the adjustment and maybe don’t have the MLB career that they were projected to have. If Yamamoto’s MLB career didn’t pan out the way everyone thought, and I’m not cheering for this to happen, the Yankees would be stuck with an overpaid pitcher that they wouldn’t be able to ship somewhere else.
Plus, not being tied down with his long-term contract allows the Yankees to focus their efforts on other free agent pitchers. Not that I’m advocating for this, but they can now decide to pursue another starter such as Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell. Brian Cashman has also indicated that the Yankees may look to bolster the bullpen with a few signings if they missed out on Yamamoto. So they may now turn their attention to that area and possibly pursue free agents such as Josh Hader, Jordan Hicks, or Robert Stephenson, just to name a few. It also could be a combination of these two, as they may acquire a starter or two and still plan to boost the bullpen. Let’s see what happens there.
Overall, the Yankees definitely missed out on securing Yamamoto and adding a No. 2 piece to pitch behind Cole. However, it may end up being a blessing in disguise for the team, as they are now able to add more pieces to the team that will come cheaper than Yamamoto. After all, this is not a team that is simply one piece away from contending for a World Series. The more help they can get, the better they will become. And they still need plenty of help at this point.
