MLB Offseason Round-Up: Who Will Land Yoshinobu Yamamoto?

Danny Demilio |

Dec 17, 2023

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, MLB offseason — FILE - Japan's Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers a pitch during the fifth inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico on March 20, 2023, in Miami. Yamamoto will be allowed to move to an MLB team under the player posting system, the Orix Buffaloes said Sunday, Nov. 5, after it lost Game 7 of the Japan Series to the Hanshin Tigers. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

This is one in a series of daily articles highlighting the latest news and notes from the MLB offseason.

Rumors around Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto continue to swirl.

The 25-year-old is the top free agent left on the board this MLB offseason after Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this month.

Yamamoto is one of the best players to ever make the jump from Japan to the United States. Not only does he have youth on his side, but he has a terrific resumé in Nippon Professional Baseball.

In seven seasons in the NPB, Yamamoto has a sparkling 1.82 ERA. He’s amassed 70 wins agaisnt 29 losses and has struck out 922 batters in 897 innings pitched.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Yoshinobu had dinner with a contingent of Mets’ personnel at owner Steve Cohen’s house on Saturday. While in New York, Yamamoto will meet again with the cross-town Yankees, per Andy Martino of SNY.

Along with the Mets and Yankees, the Giants, Red Sox, Dodgers, Blue Jays and Phillies have all met with the talented free agent. There has been speculation that Yamamoto will end up with a contract that exceeds $300 million.

The window in which Yamamoto can sign with a new team closes on Jan. 4, so a decision will come sooner rather than later.