Yoshinobu Yamamoto is going to have plenty of suitors once he is posted this offseason. The New York Yankees will figure prominently into his market.
According to Yahoo News Japan, the Yankees are prepared to offer an impressive deal. In fact, their contract offer is expected to exceed the seven year, $155 million deal that they handed Masahiro Tanaka when he headed stateside.
New York Yankees reportedly all in on Yoshinobu Yamamoto
The Yankees got an up close look as to how dominant Yamamoto can be. General manager Brian Cashman was there when Yamamoto fired his no-hitter recently, the second of his career. Cashman even extended his stay in Japan to watch Yamamoto due to being that impressed with his outing.
Yamamoto has been one of the best pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball since his debut. He has a career 1.84 ERA and a 0.936 WHiP in his 876 innings, striking out 898 batters with 202 walks. He is also far more than his statistics, possessing the type of arsenal that should make him an ace at the major league level. His mid 90s fastball has been clocked as high as 98 MPH and works well with his plus-plus splitter and impressive curve.
Based on his pure stuff and performance, Yamamoto should be a star stateside as well. However, there is always going to be a degree of uncertainty. The balls in the majors are different than in Japan, the players are better, and there is a difference in culture. The adjustments, both on and off the diamond, can take time. While guarantees do not exist, Yamamoto is as close to one as there can be.
The New York Yankees are reportedly all in on Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He could be that second ace they so desperately need in their rotation.
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