Agent for Yoshinobu Yamamoto shares where he would have signed if not Dodgers
Aug 4, 2021; Yokohama, Japan; Team Japan pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (17) reacts against Korea in a baseball semifinal match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was introduced to the media on Wednesday after choosing to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During his introductory press conference, Yamamoto’s agent revealed where else the pitcher might have signed if not with the Dodgers.
Yamamoto’s agent Joel Wolfe told the media that the pitcher liked the city of San Francisco. Wolfe said there was a “good chance” Yamamoto would have chosen to sign with the Giants if not for the Dodgers.
“[Yamamoto] thought that San Francisco really reminded him of Osaka and thought it was a beautiful city…If the Dodgers had not been pursuing him, there was a good chance San Francisco could’ve been his destination,” Wolfe said.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto's agent, Joel Wolfe, lauded the Giants' pitch: "He thought that San Francisco really reminded him of Osaka and thought it was a beautiful city…If the Dodgers had not been pursuing him, there was a good chance San Francisco could've been his destination."
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) December 28, 2023
Though they didn’t sign Yamamoto, that might make the Giants feel slightly better, especially after what Buster Posey said recently.
Yamamoto was being heavily pursued by the New York Mets and New York Yankees in addition to the Dodgers. The Giants were also said to be in consideration, as well as the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays.
Ultimately, Yamamoto chose to sign with the Dodgers. The Japanese star liked the Dodgers so much that he apparently was planning to sign with them independent of Shohei Ohtani’s decision.
Now the Dodgers have over $1 billion in financial commitments to both Yamamoto and Ohtani. They also added the high-priced Tyler Glasnow this offseason in a trade with the Rays.
Yamamoto got a 12-year, $325 million contract from the Dodgers. The 25-year-old comes to MLB after winning the Japan pitching triple crown three years in a row.
