The Braves are looking for a starting pitcher.
Following Aaron Nola’s signing with the Phillies, it was reported that the Braves “were a real threat” to sign him. Soon after, it was reported that they were apparently shifting their focus to Sonny Gray.
However, Alex Anthopoulos appears to be leaving no stone unturned. The Braves are “in on” Yoshinobu Yamamoto, according to MLB insider Steve Phillips, who was recently released by the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball on Monday.
Yamamoto, a right-handed 25-year-old, is expected to sign a contract worth more than $200 million for his services, which would be a steal if he pitches anything like he did in the NPB.
Yamamoto went 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA in 24 starts in 2023, striking out 176 batters in 171 innings and earning another Eiji Sawamura Award — the NPB’s equivalent of the Cy Young Award.
Yamamoto’s fastball sits in the mid-to-high 90s, and he complements it with a filthy splitter, an above-average curveball, and a cutter.
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