Observations as Yankees are making their pitch to Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto
After a long period of admiring and following Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Yankees are finally making their pitch.
At last week’s Baseball Winter Meetings, GM Brian Cashman was direct about the club’s intentions about adding the 25-year-old Japanese ace to the rotation.
“We’ve scouted him extensively and think he’s going to be a really successful pitcher anywhere he pitches on the planet,’’ said Cashman.
Yankees trade: Marquee prospect sent to Dodgers for lefty pitcher and young infielder
The business of negotiating to put Yamamoto in pinstripes begins Monday, with the Yankees reported to be having an audience with the celebrated free agent starter in Los Angeles.
Besides the Yankees, the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Giants and Mets have been linked to serious interest in Yamamoto, who is in a 45-day window to negotiate with MLB clubs after his posting.
Yamamoto’s new MLB team would owe a posting fee to the Orix Buffaloes, based on a percentage of a contract that – due to the demand – might be in the $250-$300 million neighborhood.
During the summer, Cashman and assistant Omar Minaya were in the stands when Yamamoto pitched his second career no-hitter, on the way to winning his third straight Sawamura Award – the rough equivalent of the Cy Young Award.
Signing Yamamoto would take the Yankees’ payroll beyond $300 million, a new threshold in the Hal Steinbrenner era.
But the Yankees owner might be going head-to-head against billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen, with the resources and motivation to bring Yamamoto to Citi Field.
As SNY's Andy Martino reported, Steinbrenner will be present at this initial meeting with Yamamoto and his agent, Joel Wolfe.
Cashman’s intentions on Yamamoto were made before the Yankees sent Michael King and three other young starters to the San Diego Padres for slugger Juan Soto, depleting the Yanks’ pitching depth.
“When there’s an opportunity to add more to the (rotation’s) front end, you’ve got to play on it,’’ Cashman said last week in Nashville.
Adding Yamamoto behind unanimous 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole would clearly strengthen a rotation that includes Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes and Clarke Schmidt.
Rodon is coming off a brutal debut season with the Yanks, mostly due to injury, after signing a six-year, $162 million free-agent contract last winter. Cortes made just 12 starts due to rotator cuff strains.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yoshinobu Yamamoto: NY Yankees meeting with Japanese free agent pitcher
