Aaron Boone sheds light on Yankees’ meetings with Yoshinobu Yamamoto
NEW YORK — When Brian Cashman spoke about Yoshinobu Yamamoto at the winter meetings, the general manager said that he feels “personal touches” are important to the Yankees’ courtship of the pitcher.
Cashman had been referring to his September visit to Japan, during which he saw Yamamoto throw a no-hitter. Cashman added that he kept the ticket stub.
The Yankees have since continued to sprinkle their pursuit with personal touches throughout two meetings with Yamamoto. One took place in Los Angeles on Dec. 11, while the most recent happened in Manhattan this past Sunday.
On Thursday, Aaron Boone revealed that he presented Yamamoto, 25, with a No. 18 Yankees jersey during one of the meetings. The numeral is typically worn by aces in Japan, and the Yankees didn’t issue it in 2023.
“I gave him that jersey,” Boone said while participating in a holiday food and toy drive at the NYPD’s 44th precinct. “It’s his if he wants to keep it.”
As Yamamoto weighs where to play after seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes — his choices also include the Dodgers and Mets, among other big spenders — the Yankees had a helping hand from a Japanese great who has already donned pinstripes.
Boone said that Hideki Matsui filmed videos and provided presumably signed jerseys for the Yankees’ pitch. The manager also said that Yamamoto knew of the successes Matsui, Masahiro Tanaka, Hiroki Kuroda and Ichiro Suzuki had in the Bronx.
“He was aware of a lot of that,” Boone said. “It’s something that we talked about, too, that we have had a pretty good track record going back now several seasons.”
Boone, generally speaking about Japanese former Yankees, added that “they were involved” but not present at the meetings.
The skipper also said that Yamamoto has not scheduled any more meetings with the Yankees. Reports regarding when the decorated right-hander will sign — and for how much — have varied. Yamamoto has until Jan. 4 to make a decision under the posting system.
In the meantime, Boone said “it’s been fun” getting to know Yamamoto in “less formal environments.” He described the three-time Sawamura Award winner — Nippon Professional Baseball’s Cy Young — as a “special dude” who has a “presence to him.”
Boone added that Yamamoto oozes confidence and humility and is “comfortable in his skin.” Boone also said that Yamamoto lit up a bit when the Yankees told him about what Yankee Stadium is like during the playoffs, or when they play the rival Red Sox and Astros.
As Yamamoto inches closer to a life-changing decision, the Yankees tried to show an understanding that his choice will come down to more than money.
Yamamoto won’t just be joining a new team. He’ll be moving to an entirely new country, inherent with as many off-the-field challenges as on-the-field ones.
“The biggest thing is trying to allow him to ask any questions he may have, certainly from different levels of the organization,” Boone said. “You know, give him an idea of our history from our view and from Cash’s view, from my view, Matt Blake. You’re trying to just be authentic and get to know each other and get the dialogue such that you’re comfortable.
“You certainly want to make him feel like you understand, coming over from Japan, there’s all kinds of adjustments that you and I can’t even imagine. He’ll have a team of people with him when he does come over, and you want to make sure that that is as seamless as possible and try and give them ideas about how you plan on making that seamless.”
Now it’s almost time for Yamamoto to consider the plans — and terms — that the Yankees and other teams are offering. Boone wasn’t sure where his club stood, but he’s feeling positive about the Bombers’ odds.
“I know all the teams are now putting their best foot forward, negotiating,” Boone said. “That’s above my pay grade. So we’ll see where it lands.”
