Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers ‘agree 12-year contract worth $325m’ as they pair the Japanese pitcher with Shohei Ohtani in another blockbuster move
Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a record-breaking 12-year contract worth $325 million.
It comes just weeks after they signed Shohei Ohtani to a massive ten-year contract worth $700 million.
The previous record contract for a starting pitcher was $324 million, which the Yankees gave to Gerrit Cole nine years ago in 2019.
Yamamoto has been courted by teams from around the league throughout the season, but recent reports claimed that discussions until this week were more exploratory and did not include 'serious' contract proposals.'
It was then believed that the 25-year-old was ready to make formal offers this week and has now decided his next move.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the LA Dodgers have agreed to a 12-year contract worth $325 million
The Japanese pitcher was courted by a number of teams in the league throughout the season
It comes just weeks after the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract
The Japanese star, who has played for the Orix Buffaloes in Nippon Professional Baseball since 2017, had 45 days to sign a contract. That term would expire on January 4.
The right-hander, the top free-agent pitcher on the market, was reportedly in New York this weekend for meetings with the Yankees and Mets. It was the second time the player met the teams in person.
The pitcher reportedly had dinner with Mets owner Steve Cohen in Connecticut president of baseball operations David Stearns, manager Carlos Mendoza and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner were also in attendance.
The next day he reportedly met with Yankees officials for the second time in a week, with owner Hal Steinbrenner, GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone all involved on the field.
Yamamoto has also reportedly held talks with the Dodgers, Giants, Red Sox and Phillies.
More to follow.