In yet another record-breaking deal of the season, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. This is a massive signing for the Los Angeles-based team as they greatly improve their potential rotation. In a monumental 12-year pact, the Dodgers managed to pry away Yamamoto from the New York Yankees and Mets.   

Furthermore, the Japanese ace has made history, beating even the likes of Gerrit Cole. But there are a lot of unusual aspects to the deal that has made Yamamoto one of MLB’s must-see pitchers. 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto breaks Gerrit Cole’s record in more ways than one

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has signed a 12-year $325 million record deal with the Dodgers, breaking Gerrit Cole’s record by $1 million. This makes him the holder of MLB’s largest contract for a pitcher at the young age of 25. But that’s not it. He also now holds the record for the longest contract given to a pitcher with his 12-year pact. This makes his deal all the more unusual, given his lack of MLB experience. 

Yamamoto is a rare type of free agent, being 25 years old and having the extensive experience he has. Furthermore, the Japanese ace has excelled at the NPB level for several years, building a strong portfolio of work. This young age and terrific level of play are the reasons behind his massive price tag and why he has beaten Cole’s record.

Furthermore, his expertise at throwing the fastball and splitter along with a curveball as a tertiary option make him highly sought after. But despite all of these positives, Yamamoto will have to prove himself on the biggest stage as the Dodgers’ billion-dollar band-aid looks to help World Series hopes.

Yamamoto is a calculated risk for the Dodgers

Yoshinobu Yamamoto seems to be a safe bet as an ace-level talent, given his age and track record. But that doesn’t take away the fact that this move is a risk on some level. Yamamoto has the pitching “stuff” to be one of the very best, and a competitive spirit that defines clutch players given his exemplary career 1.86 career ERA.

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But there will be high expectations as the new Dodgers ace surpasses Gerrit Cole as MLB’s highest-paid pitcher. He may be a 3x Sawamura Award winner, aka Japan’s version of the Cy Young, but he’s still an MLB rookie. What do you think of Yoshinobu Yamamoto having the largest and longest contract in MLB history? 

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