The Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes are infinitely extra attention-grabbing and illuminating than Shohei Ohtani’s free company for a lot of causes: Folks have been allowed to report on them, there appear to be extra suitors than simply the Dodgers and a pair are primarily based in the previous couple of baseball-rabid markets in America.
Whereas I wholeheartedly agree that we needn’t obsess over the AL and NL Easts, it’s extra enjoyable after they’re concerned. (And, no, Toronto doesn’t depend.) The Yankees, Mets, Pink Sox and Phillies have all appeared in substantiated rumors for the Japanese ace.
The hierarchy of spending within the Northeast has shifted up to now decade, with the Mets, Phillies and infrequently the Pink Sox keen to spend as a lot as, if no more than, the Evil Empire. The outcomes haven’t fairly been there for the Mets or Phillies, and Boston’s success is sporadic, however with the Yanks mired in a World Sequence drought, there is no such thing as a de facto superpower on the East Coast.
Whoever lands Yamamoto, if he doesn’t go to the Dodgers, would wrest the bat-shaped scepter from Steve Cohen’s palms — except the Mets find yourself victorious. Then it’s simply extra of the identical, and we are able to anticipate Yamamoto to get traded to the Dodgers after they flame out by the All-Star break.
Philadelphia is intriguing as a result of not too long ago they’ve been essentially the most profitable playoff group of the bunch, and I’m together with the Dodgers. The Phils have been a blown save or two away from back-to-back World Sequence appearances in October and bolster a lineup that’s proven a knack for getting sizzling when few else can.
A trio of Zach Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Yamamoto going into any seven-game collection would give Rob Thompson a ton of flexibility, and insurance coverage in case Nola’s regular-season inconsistency lastly bleeds into the playoffs. It’d even be one other main coup in a string of them for Philly that led to substantial signings of Bryce Harper and Trea Turner.
In years previous, the Yankees’ cachet, and pocketbook, would’ve been greater than sufficient to land coveted stars like Harper and Turner. Don’t idiot your self, on MLB’s record of high-priced rosters, the Pinstripes are nonetheless within the high three. The return on funding simply won’t be what it as soon as was, however that’s extra on Brian Cashman.
It’s hysterical to look at the embattled Yankees’ GM play negotiator, with followers screaming at him to spend cash the Steinbrenners received’t, and brokers utilizing that leverage to pressure overpays. Nevermind that the “ace” New York scooped up for $162 million final offseason had the worst yr of his profession in 2023, no Yankee pitcher outdoors of Garrett Cole has actually been constant or wholesome in 5 years, and possession is uncharacteristically affected person (apathetic) with each GM and supervisor Aaron Boone, go to the Bronx, Yoshi. I heard Yankee Stadium is . . . a baseball stadium.
If the Sox nab Yamamoto, it’s a sign to their fanbase that possession is feeling frisky once more, and that Boston’s sway is each bit as alluring as New York’s after they decide to toss cash round. The Pink Sox and Yankees have been unhealthy by their requirements final season, but that was nonetheless adequate to hover round .500.
Whereas there are areas that want addressing on high of beginning pitching, signing Yamamoto is extra about sustaining appearances for the AL East powerhouses-turned-cellar dwellers.
Say the previous 5 or 6 paragraphs are all for naught, and the Dodgers signal Yamamoto to create a Japanese superteam. That may, and doubtless ought to, immediate an existential disaster in MLB. It’s about greater than LA deferring $680 million of Ohtani’s $700 million deal, or the Dodgers dropping money like they’re the Saudi Public Funding Fund. Numerous teams’ local TV contracts are on tenuous ground, the league is flailing for reputation, Rob Manfred doesn’t know the which means of “marketing” and the most important manufacturers within the sport can’t get the most important free brokers to return their calls.
So, yeah, no strain, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
