LA Dodgers Could Target Yoshinobu Yamamoto Backup, Brewers Ace Tops List Amidst Intense $300 Million Race

While Yoshinobu Yamamoto remains the prime target for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he might be slipping through their hands. Although they have always been considered among top favorites for landing the Japanese ace, the competition has increased rapidly with the New York teams going all in. With doubts emerging over closing their deal with Yamamoto, the Dodgers have started looking at potential fallback options.

With Tyler Glasnow as their latest acquisition, the team still desperately needs more pitchers. While Yamamoto would’ve been a perfect choice, the name now emerging as his backup may be just as good. 

Los Angeles Dodgers looking to Milwaukee for a change

Even though Yoshinobu Yamamoto has huge potential, he has no experience in the major leagues. The Dodgers are willing to take a risk but if they’re unable to sign him, the Blue Birds will go for one of the safest hands in the league today. As top insider Jon Morosi revealed to the MLB Network, “If Yamamoto does not go to the Dodgers, I think the Dodgers and Burnes become a potential pairing.”

Corbin Burnes has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the past three years having pitched more than 165 innings in every one of those seasons. Apart from this, his trade is slowly becoming a necessity for the Milwaukee Brewers as Burnes will enter free agency next year. The 2021 Cy Young Award winner could be let go now as he’d probably be too expensive for the Brewers.

With a potential salary of around $14 million, Burnes wouldn’t add much pressure to the high-spending Dodgers. At the same time with Tyler Glasnow, Burnes would provide a strong 1-2 punch for the Blue Crew. There’s no denying that for one year, Burnes can become a huge addition to the Dodgers’ squad.

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But LA isn’t the only one after this ace. And the Brewers too aren’t ready to make it easy to trade Burnes from their team.

Acquiring Corbin Burnes could be a tough ordeal

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal recently wrote that the Brewers “are willing to trade [for Burnes] but only for the proverbial right price”. Which would include some of the biggest prospects that the Dodgers have. At the same time, Burnes has many big suitors and that number will only increase once the Yamamoto sweepstakes end.

With teams like the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Atalanta Braves linked with the ace, things will get difficult for the Dodgers. Yet there is no denying that Burnes can prove to be a massive game-changer for the Blue Crew.

Read more: Billionaire Mets Owner Gears Up for Yoshinobu Yamamoto Battle, Prepares Serious Offer Amidst Yankees’ Advantage