LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized their 12-year contract with right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, teaming the prized free agent with Shohei Ohtani of their prolific winter spending spree.
The Dodgers didn’t disclose the worth of the contract they introduced Wednesday, however a number of media experiences have tagged it at $325 million. That deal could be the biggest and longest ever assured to a significant league pitcher.
The 25-year-old Yamamoto was coveted by groups throughout the majors after he elected to go away the Orix Buffaloes this offseason. The big-budget, pitching-poor Dodgers landed him with a mammoth deal after already buying two-way AL MVP Ohtani and Tampa Bay right-hander Tyler Glasnow this month.
Yamamoto has posted spectacular numbers in Japan’s high league in recent times, profitable three straight Most Valuable Player awards within the Nippon Pacific League. He went 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA whereas placing out 169 and strolling simply 28 this 12 months, profitable the Japanese pitching triple crown by main the league in wins, strikeouts and ERA.
Yamamoto has thrown two no-hitters up to now two years, and he has a 1.72 ERA in his profession. He is exceptionally good at limiting his opponents’ energy, permitting simply 36 homers over his seven seasons in Japan.
The contracts given out by the Dodgers to Ohtani, Yamamoto and Glasnow are doubtlessly value effectively over $1.1 billion, however the two Japanese superstars generate important worldwide income that can offset the price of the offers. Los Angeles can be one of many majors’ richest groups underneath Guggenheim Baseball Management possession led by Mark Walter.
The Dodgers had been in important want of pitching after a dismal collection of accidents and setbacks this season. Los Angeles nonetheless received 100 video games though injury-plagued Clayton Kershaw was their solely beginning pitcher who threw greater than 125 innings or posted a qualifying ERA decrease than 3.75.
Yamamoto and Glasnow might be instant additions to the Dodgers‘ rotation, whereas Ohtani is extremely unlikely to pitch in 2024 after present process a second elbow surgical procedure within the offseason.
