LA Dodgers Emerge as Yoshinobu Yamamoto Favorites, Overtaking Mets and Yankees Amidst Intense $300 Million Race

After his senpai’s blockbuster signing, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is now the center of attention this offseason. Due to the immense talent he has shown on the mound, the 25-year-old has made a dreamer out of the most cynic of minds. Now that the pitcher is flying across the States to talk to all of his shortlisted suitors, who will be the lucky one to get him on their side?

The league has rarely seen the kind of interest that Yamamoto currently possesses. Not only executives, but even players are trying to get him to their roster. The 3x PL MVP’s list of suitors is so special that even a top reporter conceded the unique situation MLB finds itself in.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has the whole world in the palm of his hand

When it was announced that Yoshinobu Yamamoto was getting ready to enter MLB, there were expectations that he would have a bunch of suitors waiting to get his signature. But nobody expected the kind of frenzy that he has generated. Even Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic took notice, “Rarely do the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees, three of the sport’s biggest spenders, target the same free agent.” But as it stands, the Dodgers may be ahead of the rest.

The Blue Crew recently entered dreamland by getting Shohei Ohtani for $700 million. Normally such an exorbitant amount, the biggest in American sports history, would signify that the team would end their free agency talks right then and there. But after Ohtani’s massive deferrals, not only do the Dodgers have funds to spare but also the promise of having the best player in the world on their roster.

There is no denying that both the Yankees and Mets haven’t had much success lately. The Dodgers, on the other hand, won the World Series in 2020 and are a perpetual presence in the postseason. They certainly have an edge over the Big Apple.

Read more: 4 Alarm Bells Indicating Why Yoshinobu Yamamoto May Be a Wrong Move for the New York Yankees

The West Coast is a giant question mark for now but just imagine – Yamamoto and Ohtani wearing the same jerseys in the 2024 postseason. What a lethal combination.

The Dodgers are aiming for a World Series in 2024

Their recent aggression indicates that the Dodgers do not want to wait long before giving Ohtani his first World Series. As a result, they are competing hard not only for Yamamoto but also for trade players like Tyler Glasnow.

But the New York Teams won’t give up the Japanese ace too easily. The only advantage that the Dodgers have is their small payroll of $132 million. Whereas the Yankees and Mets are at $203 and $224 million. The Blue Crew simply has more flexibility.

It’ll be interesting how things shape up.

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