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10:37pm: There’s a $50MM signing bonus, studies Bob Nightengale of USA At present (X link). The deal does not include any deferred cash, in keeping with Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic (on X).
10:18pm: It’s a 12-year, $325MM pact, studies Jeff Passan of ESPN (on X).
10:07pm: Yoshinobu Yamamoto plans to signal with the Dodgers on a deal that’ll assure upwards of $300MM, studies Jack Curry of the YES Community (X link). The NPB star will be part of a star-studded roster in Los Angeles.
Yamamoto has been the very best pitcher in Japan for the previous few seasons. The proper-hander spent elements of seven years with the Orix Buffaloes. By his age-20 marketing campaign, he’d emerged as one of many prime pitchers on the second-highest stage {of professional} baseball on this planet. Yamamoto turned in a 1.95 ERA that season, kicking off a run of 5 straight years permitting not more than 2.20 earned runs per 9.
That features sub-2.00 ERA showings over his remaining trio of seasons. Yamamoto has received the Sawamura Award as Japan’s finest pitcher in all three years. He labored to a 1.39 ERA over 193 2/3 innings in 2021, adopted by a 1.68 mark in 193 frames the following season. Yamamoto in some way turned in a good higher yr in his remaining season with the Buffaloes, pitching to a microscopic 1.21 ERA by way of 168 frames.
Amongst NPB pitchers to achieve 100 innings, Yamamoto’s ERA was greater than half a run decrease than anybody else’s. (Shoki Murakami completed second with a 1.75 mark in 144 1/3 frames). Solely Shota Imanaga, who can also be out there to MLB groups this offseason by way of the posting system, topped Yamamoto’s 169 strikeouts. He punched out 26.6% of opposing hitters towards a tidy 4.4% stroll price.
It’s about as dominant a physique of labor as a pitcher can construct earlier than he faces any MLB hitters. The elite manufacturing is supported by each scouting and quantitive evaluations of Yamamoto’s arsenal. Evaluators are almost unanimous in projecting him as a high-octane main league starter. Conservative estimates on his upside level to a future as a high-end #2 starter, whereas different scouts have pegged him as a possible ace.
Eno Sarris of the Athletic lately broke down Yamamoto’s repertoire. He recommended Yamamoto brandishes three plus or higher choices highlighted by a split-finger that ought to be among the many finest within the majors. The righty labored within the mid-upper 90s together with his fastball in shorter stints throughout the World Baseball Basic. He additionally sports activities a promising curveball and a cutter as his third and fourth choices, whereas evaluators reward his athleticism and command.
Yamamoto would have been in excessive demand even when he have been in his late 20s or early 30s, the usual age for a free agent pitcher. To the extent there are issues about Yamamoto, they’re restricted to his lack of MLB expertise and a smaller 5’10” body. That hasn’t frightened many evaluators, although, they usually’re clearly not points for the Dodgers.
Extra to come back.
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