The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the top pitcher from Japan, to a 12-year contract worth $325 million. He will also earn a $50 million signing bonus to leave Japan and join the MLB.
Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, seen here on the mound for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, will join the Los Angeles Dodgers next season. (Image: AP)
Yamamoto, 25, is the top pitcher from the Japanese Pacific League, and he’s widely considered one of Japan’s all-time greatest hurlers. The right-handed ace turned pro at age 18, and has pitched lights out the last several seasons. He won the Eiji Sawamura Award three times, which is Japan’s equivalent of the Cy Young Award.
During his tenure with the Orix Buffaloes, Yamamoto posted a 75-30 record with a 1.72 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.
In 2023, Yamamoto posted eye-popping stats. He went 16-6 with an 1.21 ERA and a 6-to-1 strikeout ratio. He allowed only two home runs in 164 innings.
Yamamoto is only 5-foot-10, but relies on a six-pitch arsenal including a nasty splitter and knee-buckling curveball.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Fastball & Curveball, Overlay.
Also see his unique curveball release.
One of the prettiest RHP curveballs in the world!
Yamamoto: 16-5, 1.42 ERA (170 innings) and has won his last 13 decisions.
Leads NPB in nearly every major pitching category. pic.twitter.com/GgeQul7q27
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 2, 2021
Dodgers Outbid Yankees, Mets, and Giants for Yamamoto
More than half the league wanted to sign Yamamoto, but the field had been narrowed down to the Dodgers and six other teams. The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Toronto Blue Jays all met with Yamamoto.
The Yankees had one of their worst seasons in 30 years, and hoped to change their luck with Yamamoto. They offered him $300 million and set aside jersey #18, which is a lucky and honorable number coveted among Japanese players. However, the Dodgers outbid the Yankees with an additional $25 million.
Over the last week, the Mets emerged as potential front runners to sign Yamamoto. Team owner Steve Cohen flew to Japan to persuade Yamamoto to become the Mets’ next ace.
The Dodgers spent over $1 billion on two of the most talented Japanese players from their generation. They inked two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year deal worth $700 million. The Los Angeles Angels missed out on a chance to retain their All-Star pitcher when he remained in the City of Angels but joined the Dodgers instead via free agency.
Ohtani will not pitch next season while he recovers from elbow surgery, but he’ll perform designated hitter duties and hopes to return to the mound in the 2025 season.
Yamamoto joins a projected pitching staff that includes Walker Buehler, Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller, and Emmet Sheehan. Meanwhile, former ace Clayton Kershaw is a free agent and could return to the Dodgers, but he’s also mulling retirement.
Dodgers Now +400 Odds to Win World Series
Moments after the Texas Rangers won the 2023 World Series, oddsmakers released odds for the 2024 World Series. The Atlanta Braves were the outright favorite at +650, followed by the Dodgers at +700, and the Rangers at +850 odds to repeat as World Series champions.
The Blue Jays were +1700 odds to win the World Series, but saw an uptick in their futures based on rumors that they had an inside track to sign Ohtani. The Dodgers won the Ohtani sweepstakes, and they surged to the top of the MLB futures board to win the World Series at +550 odds.
On the morning after the news broke about Yamamoto joining the Dodgers, their World Series odds narrowed to +400 at DraftKings.
The Braves are currently the second favorite on the board at +700, followed by the Yankees (+900), Houston Astros (+1000), and defending champion Rangers (+1100).
The Dodgers are +210 odds to win the National League pennant. The Braves (+360) and Phillies (+550) are their closest competition.
The Dodgers are the betting favorite to win the NL West at -285 odds, and they’re ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks (+550), San Diego Padres (+800), Giants (+850), and Colorado Rockies (+12000).
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