Viral WBC Video: Dodgers Paid $25 Million More, But Yoshinobu Yamamoto Was Once a Victim of Yankees’ Alex Verdugo’s Wrath

The New York Yankees gave it their all but in the end, it didn’t even matter. Now that reports have confirmed that Yoshinobu Yamamoto has agreed to a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Yankee Nation is seeing their dreams shatter right before them. Yet in this atmosphere of pain, Bronx fans may have found a breeze of relief in a video that has recently gone viral.

Even though Yamamoto hasn’t thrown a single pitch in major leagues till now, he has faced multiple MLB players. One of them is the newly acquired Yankees slugger Alex Verdugo, whom Yamamoto faced in the World Baseball Classic 2023. Their encounter has now become a topic of discussion for the fans.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Alex Verdugo – Unforgettable Spring Match-up

The Yankees experienced tremendous highs in early December. First, they signed Alex Verdugo and then their prime target Juan Soto with Trent Grisham. Fans hoped that the Bronx squad would seal this offseason by getting Yoshinobu Yamamoto but their hopes were for naught. Now that a video of Verdugo hitting Yamamoto for a double is making the rounds on the internet, there’s vengeful satisfaction to be had. 

This clip is from the WBC semi-final between Mexico and Japan on March 20, 2023. As is visible in the video, both teams were tied at 3 runs in the 8th inning when Verdugo hit Yamamoto over the left-center field leading to his teammate scoring a run. The video has gone viral among the Yankees faithful, who are finding comfort in their slugger hitting Yamamoto’s pitch.

Unfortunately, this clip might not be an ideal example of the World Baseball Classic. Even after getting hit for a run, eventually, it was Yamamoto and Samurai Japan that ended up winning that game 6-5. But the cause of the Yankees’ pain lies somewhere else.

Watch This Story: Yankees Secure A Special Gift As The Japanese Ace Makes His Way To Be A Free Agent

The pain for the Yankees isn’t that Yamamoto chose the Dodgers, it’s that the Bronx management’s offer topped out at $300 million. After such a heavy pursuit they had hoped that the Yankees would at least match the top offer. But the Pinstripes had a different strategy.

The Bronx Bombers’ failed $300 million offer

Quite a few things put a wrench in the Yankees’ plan for going all out for Yamamoto. The biggest was his request for opt-outs in the 5th and 8th years. The Bombers didn’t seem too eager to shell out for what could very well be just a five-year deal. Especially as they had offered a 10-year, $300 million contract.

That brings the AAV to $30 million, almost $3 million more than the Dodgers’. There’s no denying the high risk that’s involved in shelling out for a player with no experience in MLB. But the Blue Crew were willing to take that risk and as a result, they have Yamamoto, not to mention Shohei Ohtani. And with this ends the biggest story of December!

Read more: This Link Between Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto Could Sway the Japanese Ace Toward Los Angeles Dodgers in Free Agency Chase