The New York Yankees lost great pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the winter of 2024, but they will be more aggressive in their chase of another Japanese fireball following summer.
In 2025, the Yankees could chase another Japanese superstar pitcher.
MLB Trade Rumours Nick Deeds commented on the Yankees’ plans to pursue righty Roki Sasaki (h/t Patrick McAvoy of Fan Nation’s Inside the Pinstripes):
“After all, teams would have a far more level financial playing field in bidding for his services this winter than one would generally expect from a free agent of his calibre, given to the aforementioned spending restrictions on players under the age of 25. The Dodgers, Yankees, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, and Texas Rangers are among the organizations that have reportedly began scouting Sasaki’s NPB starts this season,” Deeds said.
Yankees: Roki Sasaki generated blazing figures in the first four NPB seasons.
In eight NPB games in 2024, Sasaki has a 4-2 record, a 2.18 ERA, and 61 strikeouts. Through his first four professional seasons in Japan, the 22-year-old has demonstrated outstanding pitching command with a 0.856 WHIP and is expected to be a superstar in the Major Leagues.
The Yankees’ pitching staff is in good hands, with Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil, Marcus Stroman, and Clarke Schmidt all holding down the fort with dominant sub-3.00 ERAs and winning records, while reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole recovers from an elbow injury that has kept him out all season.
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