The Los Angeles Dodgers are the clear winners of the low season, and greater than six weeks stay till pitchers and catchers report back to spring coaching. To date they’ve signed the most effective obtainable free-agent pitcher (Yoshinobu Yamamoto) to a record 12-year, $325 million contract in addition to two-way star Shohei Ohtani to an even more eye-popping 10-year, $700 million deal.
These two occasions aren’t solely unrelated.
Ohtani was the primary to signal, saying his determination on Dec. 9 earlier than formally signing on Dec. 11. Yamamoto’s signing wanted longer to safe, however it was well worth the wait. Yamamoto’s agent, Joel Wolfe, believes having Ohtani underneath contract first made a distinction in Yamamoto’s determination to check in Los Angeles.
“I believe it made a giant distinction,” mentioned Yamamoto’s agent, Joel Wolfe. “Ohtani was so heat and welcoming to him, as was [his interpreter] Ippei [Mizuhara], that I believe it simply added to his stage of consolation that he knew he might stroll into this clubhouse and have a teammate, a buddy, Japanese-speaking folks, to assist him together with his adjustment.”
– Joel Wolfe, Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s agent with Wasserman
It may need helped that the 2 had been acquainted one another as teammates from the newest World Baseball Basic. Both means, Ohtani seems to be one heck of a recruiter. He’s not pushy, based on Yamamoto.
Ohtani was a part of a small group of Dodger gamers that met with Yamamoto at Dodger Stadium throughout his free-agent go to. Wolfe mentioned different groups deployed star gamers to satisfy with Yamamoto too, both in-person or nearly, however solely the Dodgers might ship probably the most gifted all-around participant within the sport.
The Dodgers’ group effort in recruiting the 25-year-old pitcher is proof of their need to offer World Collection titles for his or her followers and the town of Los Angeles.
Photograph Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities
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