The Los Angeles Dodgers have secured a groundbreaking 12-year, $325 million deal with Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto, sources confirmed on Thursday. Despite not having pitched in a Major League game, Yamamoto’s extraordinary talent and dominant performances in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) have made him one of the most sought-after prospects in recent memory.
The deal, with an additional $50 million signing bonus, shatters records for the largest sum guaranteed to a Japanese player, surpassing the previous mark held by New York Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole. Notably, this agreement doesn’t include deferrals, making it the most substantial guaranteed sum ever for a pitcher. It also exceeds the historic 10-year, $700 million deal inked by two-way star Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers.
A string of remarkable achievements in the NPB has marked Yamamoto’s ascent to MLB stardom. The 25-year-old right-hander, hailing from Bizen, Japan, secured his third consecutive Sawamura Award (Japan’s equivalent of the Cy Young) this past season while leading the Orix Buffaloes to the Japan Series.
Several major league teams, including the New York Mets, expressed intense interest in Yamamoto during a fiercely competitive free agency. Mets owner Steve Cohen even flew to Japan to personally meet with the coveted pitcher before the Winter Meetings.
Yamamoto’s impressive arsenal, including a fastball touching 99 mph, a devastating splitter, a looping curveball, and a slider, has garnered attention from MLB scouts since his debut with Orix in 2017. Despite his relatively modest physical stature at 5-foot-10 and 176 pounds, teams were captivated by his unique pitching style, durability, and exceptional command on the mound.
Yamamoto, who clinched a no-hitter in consecutive seasons and boasts a career 1.44 ERA with 580 strikeouts in NPB, is poised to join the ranks of successful Japanese pitchers who have made a significant impact in Major League Baseball.
The agreement is pending a physical, and the Dodgers have yet to confirm the deal officially. If finalized, this contract will stand as a testament to Yamamoto’s potential and the Dodgers’ aggressive approach to securing top-tier talent.
