The Los Angeles Dodgers are making headlines once again with a groundbreaking 12-year, $325 million agreement to secure the talents of Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto. This historic deal, reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan and backed by unnamed sources, also includes an additional posting fee of $50.6 million, cementing Yamamoto’s place in MLB history.
Yamamoto’s contract now stands as the most lucrative ever for a pitcher, surpassing the previous record held by New York Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole by a million dollars. This move reflects the Dodgers’ continued commitment to building an unstoppable roster, having recently signed superstar Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million deal earlier this month.
The 25-year-old Yamamoto made his transition to Major League Baseball (MLB) after being posted as a free agent by Japan’s Orix Buffaloes back in November. His decision to join the Dodgers comes on the back of an impressive career in Japan, where he was awarded the prestigious Eiji Sawamura Award, recognizing him as the top starting pitcher in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), an honor he received three times.
In his last season in Japan, Yamamoto posted jaw-dropping statistics, finishing with a remarkable 16-6 record and an astonishingly low 1.21 ERA. His dominance was further evident as he secured his third consecutive Triple Crown in the NPB’s Pacific League, leading in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.
Yamamoto’s prowess extends beyond the Japanese league; he’s known for his blazing fastball, consistently hitting the mid-to-high 90s. His contributions on the international stage have also been crucial, playing a key role in Japan’s gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics and later helping secure the World Baseball Classic title in March.
This remarkable signing adds another formidable weapon to the Dodgers’ arsenal, as they continue to build a powerhouse team for the upcoming seasons. To date, the Dodgers have made headlines by spending over a reported $1 billion in free agency during this offseason alone.
CNN reached out to both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s agent for comments but did not receive an immediate response.
The acquisition of Yoshinobu Yamamoto solidifies the Dodgers’ commitment to excellence and positions them as one of the most formidable teams in MLB. As baseball enthusiasts eagerly await the start of the next season, the Dodgers’ bold moves in the offseason promise an exciting future for fans of the game.
