Where will this Japanese sensation go? But which one? Slowly, the offseason of America’s favorite pastime became all of these two Japanese stars. First Shohei Ohtani, and now Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The two-way phenom found his way into history books with an unbelievable $700 Million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now it could be Yamamoto’s turn to sign the largest contract for a pitcher. But the question remains, where will he sign? From a long list of suitors, Yamamoto shares a link with the Dodgers’ latest star acquisition, which could lead him to the City of Stars.
Shohei Ohtani’s massive contract deferral gave the Los Angeles Dodgers breathing room to pursue a stronger pitching arsenal. Their decision to trade Ryan Pepito and Jonny DeLuca to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot resulted from that. Moreover, Glasnow, the Rays’ star ace, who recorded a stellar 2023 season, signed a five-year extension with the Dodgers for $136.5 million. And little do people know that the Glasnow and Yoshinobu share a link that can act as a deciding factor in the latter’s free agency.
What is the link between Yamamoto and Glasnow?
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Despite an injury-prone history, Glasnow bagged a sizeable contract, all thanks to his agent, Joel Wolfe. Any guesses on who’s Yamamoto’s agent? Yeah, you’re right. It’s none other than “Super Joel.” While it is typical for players to share agents, Yamamoto’s situation stands out.
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A week ago, the Japanese ace meeting with the Dodgers included notable players such as Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith. Furthermore, just a few hours earlier, Glasnow passionately advocated for the Dodgers to be the three-time Pacific League MVP.
Moreover, in a video interview on Monday, Tyler Glasnow revealed that Shohei Ohtani played a crucial part in enticing him to join the Dodgers, the former Rays pitcher stated. Can the two-way superstar do the same with his Japanese counterpart?
Considering the shared agent, significant star presence, and a substantial financial offer, it seems likely that Yamamoto could be swayed to join the illustrious city of stars.
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Glasnow’s Dodgers pitch to Yoshinobu Yamamoto
On the Foul Territory Podcast, Glasnow, a South California native, made a strong pitch for the Dodgers. His pitch was rooted in a deep admiration for the team since day one, and his intimate knowledge of the fanbase further strengthened his endorsement.
“You’d have the best life on and off the field, the weather like I said before. You get to play with Shohei Ohtani, you can do a lot of things like on the field, then there’s a lot of off-market opportunities that are outside of the field. You’ll never be bored,” said Glasnow.
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Read More: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Or Not, New York Yankees’ Strategy For ‘Super-Charged’ Bullpen Revealed
The samurai ace’s decision could open the floodgates for a long list of MLB signings. From Jordan Montgomery to Blake Snell, large franchises like the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Giants, and unequivocally, the Dodgers, wait for Yamamoto’s big decision. Finally, the question remains. Where will he sign? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!