Yankees Leverages Japanese Success Stories of Hideki Matsui and Masahiro Tanaka in Aggressive Bid for Yoshinobu Yamamoto

The New York Yankees have got the ball rolling. One of the best news in the past week was the acquisition of Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres. And with that, the Yanks plan their next quest; Yoshinobu Yamamoto. To help this star transition into Pinstripes, speculatively certain former players from Japan will be aiding Brian Cashman’s cause. 

Well, the GM of the Yankees has been in regular contact with Yamamoto’s agent, Joel Wolfe. In the thick of rumors that the player could sign a deal worth more than $200 million, Cashman will stop at nothing to ensure that the hunt is on. After all, he said, “We’re going to put our best foot forward”.

New York Yankees Take Their Game a Notch Higher

There’s conjecture about a potential meeting on Monday, however, neither camp has confirmed anything. The team also intends to use former player Hideki Matsui as a recruitment consultant, employing the same strategy they employed to court Masahiro Tanaka in 2014. Will the dream of seeing Yama-Soto in the Bronx come true? 

It is not a secret that “The Yankees are telling people they’re ahead of the pack on (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto. Like, way ahead.” But do bear in mind that the Big Apple isn’t alone in this pursuit. That means that it is utterly important to remember that every advantage will be leveraged including warm welcomes.

Speaking of warm welcomes, Hideki Matsui, a fellow Japanese icon, is likely to attest to the friendly hospitality in New York. Do note that Yamamoto would be the only Japanese player on next year’s roster. With that, Matsui’s task would be alleviating any reluctance or intimidation for the MLB debutant. If speculations are right, this might be a great strategy. After all, like seeks like.

Masahiro Tanaka‘s success during his seven-year tenure in pinstripes is yet another evidence. Tanaka too was only 25, when he first came to the Bronx. In his debut season, he was soon to rise to fame. That piece of history could be a stark testament to Yamamoto that foreign players who possess elite talent don’t require a break-in period in the major leagues. Furthermore, Yamamoto has an upper hand owing to his skills and statistics. Easing into the city would not be tough.

The New York Yankees’ Aggression Continues Even After the Juan Soto Trade

Though the contenders assumed, the Yanks would be out of the Yamamoto pursuit after their Soto trade. But they are not backing off. On the contrary, the Yanks are eager to sign Yamamoto and are displaying “Evil Empire levels of financial aggressiveness“. The Mets had hoped that the Yanks’ acquisition of Juan Soto would eliminate them from the running for the Yamamoto contract, but sources say Hal Steinbrenner is still fully committed to spending even after the Soto trade is completed.

Read More : “Yamamoto Airlines”: New York Mets Fanbase Makes Desperate Plea to Secure Star Japanese Ace

As far as having the Orix Buffaloes star on board is concerned, manager Aaron Boone said, “It’s hard to find a 25-year-old pitcher that’s as decorated as he is“. And given that the ace’s pitching artistry is no less than a wonder, why wouldn’t the Yanks go for him? After all, they did get bashed for certain missteps in the past. Is this how they seek redemption? Well 2024, is going to be an interesting one!

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