*Photo from MLB Trade Rumors*
The Dodgers machine is not resting this offseason. The Los Angeles Dodgers and RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto have agreed to a 12 year, $325 million contract, according to Jack Curry of YES. The Dodgers have confirmed the signing.
Gerrit Cole's $324 million contract was the previous record for the most guaranteed money given to a pitcher, with Yamamoto exceeding that by $1 million. The contract has opt outs after years 6 and 8 to go with a $50 million signing bonus, with the Dodgers also on the hook for a roughly $50 million posting fee, bringing the total to $375 million.
For a full time pitcher, not including two way players, Yamamoto's contract is the longest in term since Wayne Garland received a 10 year deal with the then Cleveland Indians in 1977. Cole received 9 years in his contract with the Yankees before the 2020 season.
Yamamoto finished his 7th season in Japan's NPB league in 2023. With the Orix Buffaloes, he posted a 1.21 ERA and 0.884 WHIP, averaging just 1.5 walks per 9 innings and allowing only two home runs over 164 innings pitched in 23 games.
In each of the last 3 seasons, Yamamoto has won the Eiji Sawamura Award, Japan's equivalent to the Cy Young. In those 3 seasons, he has a 1.44 ERA with 49 wins and 580 strikeouts while allowing just 15 home runs, showing an incredible ability to keep the ball in the park.
The 25 year old features a fastball that can reach as high as 99 miles an hour on the radar gun, complimented by a devastating curveball and a splitter, cutter, and slider. In game 6 of the Japan Series in 2023, Yamamoto delivered a 14 strikeout complete game in a win for the Buffaloes. He led Orix to a Japan Series title in 2022 and was part of Japan's gold medal team in the Tokyo Olympics and again at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Yamamoto was not short on suitors among MLB clubs. The New York Yankees reportedly made him an offer over $300 million, while the Mets reportedly made him the 12 year, $325 million offer that the Dodgers matched. The Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Philadelphia Phillies were also among teams interested in Yamamoto.
By adding Yamamoto, the Dodgers have spent over $1 billion on him, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Manuel Margot this offseason. The Dodgers rotation now includes Yamamoto, Glasnow, Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller, and Emmet Sheehan, with Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin nearing returns.
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