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Yamamato's pact would eclipse New York Yankees
ace Gerrit Cole's deal by $1 million, making it the largest
contract for a pitcher in major league history (not counting the
contract for two-way star Ohtani). The Dodgers also will pay
$50.6 million in a posting fee for Yamamoto.
The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, San
Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays
pursued Yamamoto, too, per multiple reports.
Yamamoto spent the past six-plus seasons with the Orix
Buffaloes, compiling a 70-29 record with one save and a 1.82 ERA
in 172 games. He has struck out 922 batters over 897 innings.
In 23 games in 2023, he finished with a 16-6 record and 1.21 ERA
with 169 strikeouts in 164 innings. Those numbers helped him to
his third straight Triple Crown in the Pacific League of Nippon
Professional Baseball as he led the league in wins, ERA and
strikeouts.
Only three pitchers in Major League Baseball have won the
pitching Triple Crown three times -- Sandy Koufax, Walter
Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander.
Yamamoto also has won the Eiji Sawamura Award, which equals the
Cy Young Award, three times.
The 5-foot-10 Yamamoto won a gold medal with Japan in the 2020
Tokyo Olympics and another in the World Baseball Classic earlier
this year.
--Field Level Media
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