Ever looked for the best ice cream flavor on a hot summer day? As fall turns to full-blown winter, MLB teams are also hunting for the perfect player to serve as the best trick up their sleeve for the 2024 season. The clubs are gearing up to catch young talents from the spectacular tornado of free agency, especially the New York Mets. The team is searching for missing pieces to fill their gaps with field glasses and guess who they’re eyeing? It’s the Japanese pitching sensation, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
As several skilled names contend in this race, teams are giving it their all to have a smooth winter ride. One of the young stars receiving various offers is from Japan but isn’t Shohei Ohtani.
New York Mets game plan for Yoshinobu Yamamoto
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The Mets are not going to miss a chance to secure the best star this time. The club from Queens tried to build its rotation around some aging pitching talents but had a disappointing season. Hoping for an improved outcome, the Mets are more focused on building a great team for the future. And they want one of the free agents, shining like no other, at Citi Field.
The Mets are "all over" Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is expected to be posted soon (via @martinonyc) https://t.co/7EOqb4Fbe4 pic.twitter.com/cXYvAWNlov
— SNY (@SNYtv) November 10, 2023
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the favorite ice cream flavor of the Mets. The team wants the 25-year-old in Blue and Orange, to win Cy Young just as he’s won the Sawamura Award three times in the last three years in Japan. Posting an ERA of 1.82 with 922 strikeouts and 633 hits, over 897 innings in a seven-year career, Yamamoto also boasts Pacific League MVPs from 2021 and 2022.
The Orix Buffaloes will be posting the slugger sometime soon in the trade market and opening windows for all 30 teams to initiate talks. The Big Apple is all ready to offer the best contract to the pitching sensation and the Mets will apparently be “all over” Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Analysts predict that the pitcher might be signing papers worth $200 million and the Queens club is all set with resources to sign him. However, the Mets are not the only ones with a strong approach.
Yankees joining the race too
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Yankees manager Brian Cashman also wants a piece of the pie. The Bombers desperately need a pitcher who can dominate the mound, and who’s better than the Japanese pitching sensation?
As the only Yankees ace having a 4.00 ERA last season was Gerrit Cole, Yamamoto fits best in the frontlines. Carlos Rodon struggled with injuries in the first season with the Yanks, posting an ERA of 6.65 and allowing 113 hits. Both the Yanks and Mets are in desperate need of a pitcher like Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
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It’s only in the hands of the ballplayer which color he wants to wear in his major league debut.
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