Report: 1 team out in the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes
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
The MLB free agent market has stalled somewhat as teams await a decision from Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Yamamoto received interest from nearly every team in MLB. The 25-year-old pitcher has had second meetings with a few clubs, which seem to be the finalists. But there is apparently one team that is out of the running.
San Francisco Giants reporter Alex Pavlovic said on Thursday that the Giants have been informed that they are out of the bidding for the ace.
“The Giants have been told they’re out of the bidding for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, per source familiar with discussions. They pushed hard but expectation is that he will end up in LA or NY,” Pavlovic posted in his report on X.
The Giants have been told they’re out of the bidding for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, per source familiar with discussions. They pushed hard but expectation is that he will end up in LA or NY.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) December 22, 2023
Pavlovic says that Yamamoto is expected to sign with either the Los Angeles Dodgers, or the New York Yankees or Mets. The Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays are also believed to be in consideration.
We know that the Mets have made a big push to land Yamamoto. Mets owner Steve Cohen flew to Japan to meet with the pitcher. Yamamoto also had a second meeting with the Mets in New York.
The Dodgers are doing their best to sign Yamamoto and team him up with Shohei Ohtani.
And then there are the Yankees, who have been viewed as a favorite for Yamamoto all along. They have seemingly been making plans to add the pitcher for quite some time.
According to Jon Morosi, Yamamoto has received one offer for $300 million or more.
As Yoshinobu Yamamoto's decision draws nearer, he has at least one contract offer of $300 million or more.@MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 22, 2023