The New York Yankees have been pursuing Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto since the offseason began and will need to make their strongest push to bring him to the Bronx, despite stiff competition from other teams.
With several teams betting big on Yamamoto, the Yankees must up their game.
According to Jim Bowden, the Boston Red Sox recently made a $300 million offer to Yamamoto, matching that of the San Francisco Giants, who are also interested in signing the standout RHP:
This season, the Yankees have been active in bolstering their roster. They were successful in acquiring star OF Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres, as well as other acquisitions that have strengthened their lineups.
Pairing Yamamoto with reigning AL Cy Young award winner Gerrit Cole would elevate the Yankees’ pitching staff to the top of the league, especially with several other pitchers, including Nestor Cortes Jr. and Carlos Rodon, set to return from injuries in 2023.
If Yamamoto signs a $300 million contract, which the Yankees would have to offer to beat out the Giants and Red Sox, it would be one of the top ten free-agent contracts in MLB history, depending on how many years both parties agree to. Three of the biggest belong to Cole, Aaron Judge, and former Yankees MVP Alex Rodriguez, demonstrating that owner Hal Steinbrenner is not afraid to spend big money to build a championship contender.
As the Yamamoto sweepstakes heat up, Steinbrenner’s sense of urgency will be put to the test.
Though a massive offer for a player who has yet to show his stuff in the majors, Steinbrenner has made it clear throughout the offseason that he does not need to exceed $300 million in annual salary cap to make the Yankees a World Series threat, though the Yankees’ course of action may indicate otherwise when free agency is over.
Yamamoto is a hot commodity, and many franchises are salivating at the prospect of bringing him on board. According to reports, Shohei Ohtani will be a major force in luring his countryman to the Los Angeles Dodgers, while Kodai Senga will be an active participant in doing the same for the New York Mets.
The Yankees will need to outperform the Giants and Red Sox in terms of market and winning history in order to resurrect their roster.
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