The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the highest pitcher from Japan, to a 12-year contract price $325 million. He can even earn a $50 million signing bonus to depart Japan and be part of MLB.
Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, seen right here on the mound for Japan within the World Baseball Traditional, will be part of the Los Angeles Dodgers subsequent season. (Picture: AP)
Yamamoto, 25, is the highest pitcher from the Japanese Pacific League, and he’s extensively thought-about certainly one of Japan’s all-time biggest hurlers. The precise-handed ace turned professional at age 18, and has pitched lights-out the final a number of seasons. He gained the Eiji Sawamura Award thrice, which is Japan’s equal of the Cy Younger Award for finest pitcher.
Throughout his tenure with the Orix Buffaloes, Yamamoto posted a 75-30 file with a 1.72 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.
In 2023, Yamamoto posted eye-popping stats. He went 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA and a 6-to-1 strikeout ratio. He allowed solely two residence runs in 164 innings.
Yamamoto is barely 5-foot-10, however depends on a six-pitch arsenal together with a nasty splitter and knee-buckling curveball.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Fastball & Curveball, Overlay.
Additionally see his distinctive curveball launch.
One of many prettiest RHP curveballs on this planet!
Yamamoto: 16-5, 1.42 ERA (170 innings) and has gained his final 13 choices.
Leads NPB in almost each main pitching class. pic.twitter.com/GgeQul7q27
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 2, 2021
Dodgers Outbid Groups for Yamamoto
Greater than half the league wished to signal Yamamoto. However the area narrowed to the Dodgers and 6 different groups. The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Pink Sox, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Toronto Blue Jays all met with Yamamoto.
The Yankees had certainly one of their worst seasons in 30 years, and hoped to vary their luck with Yamamoto. They provided him $300 million and put aside jersey #18, which is a fortunate and honorable quantity coveted amongst Japanese gamers. The Dodgers outbid the Yankees with an extra $25 million.
During the last week, the Mets emerged as potential front-runners to signal Yamamoto. Workforce proprietor Steve Cohen flew to Japan to influence Yamamoto to grow to be the Mets’ subsequent ace.
The Dodgers have now spent greater than $1 billion on two of essentially the most gifted Japanese gamers from their technology. In addition they inked two-way celebrity Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year deal price $700 million.
The Los Angeles Angels missed out on an opportunity to retain their All-Star pitcher/designated hitter when he determined to stay within the Metropolis of Angels, however as a substitute joined the Dodgers through free company.
Ohtani gained’t pitch subsequent season whereas he recovers from elbow surgical procedure. However he’ll carry out designated hitter duties and hopes to return to the mound within the 2025 season.
Yamamoto joins a projected pitching employees that features Walker Buehler, Tyler Glasnow, Bobby Miller, and Emmet Sheehan. In the meantime, former ace Clayton Kershaw is a free agent and will return to the Dodgers, however he’s additionally mulling retirement.
Dodgers Now +400 Odds to Win World Sequence
Moments after the Texas Rangers gained the 2023 World Sequence, oddsmakers launched odds for the 2024 World Sequence. The Atlanta Braves have been the outright favourite at +650, adopted by the Dodgers at +700, and the Rangers at +850 odds to repeat as World Sequence champions.
The Blue Jays have been +1700 odds to win the World Sequence, however noticed an uptick of their futures primarily based on rumors that they’d an inside monitor to signal Ohtani. The Dodgers gained the Ohtani sweepstakes, they usually surged to the highest of the MLB futures board to win the World Sequence at +550 odds.
On the morning after the Yamamoto information broke, the Dodgers’ World Sequence odds narrowed to +400 at DraftKings.
The Braves are at the moment the second favourite on the board at +700, adopted by the Yankees (+900), Houston Astros (+1000), and the defending champion Rangers (+1100).
The Dodgers are +210 odds to win the Nationwide League pennant. The Braves (+360) and Phillies (+550) are their closest competitors.
The Dodgers are the betting favourite to win the NL West at -285 odds, they usually’re forward of the Arizona Diamondbacks (+550), San Diego Padres (+800), Giants (+850), and Colorado Rockies (+12000).
