MLB opened its doors to Japanese players back in 1964. In the same year, Masanori ‘Mashi’ Murakami became the first Japanese player to debut in major leagues. In 1995, the pitcher Hideo Nomo became the first professional Japanese player to enter MLB, leading the league in strikeouts in his debut season. Colossal clubs like the New York Yankees and the New York Mets have been chasing after promising players of Japanese heritage ever since. A Japanese player, whose free agency is lingering, has been garnering attention recently.
Shohei Ohtani, Yu Darvish, Yusei Kikuchi—many names are gracing the diamond right now. But it seems like 2023 offseason trades are facing an influx of Japanese players more than ever. And one of the most promising rookies, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, is a hot topic among traders at this moment. Both the Yankees and the Mets are in pursuit of getting him. Yamamoto’s records prove that he can be a major addition to the biggest league in baseball. Who is aiming to ace the Championship race by hiring the 2020 Japan Series champion next season?
New York Yankees With a Glorious Past: A Perfect Team to Mark His MLB Start for Yoshinobu Yamamoto
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The New York Yankees have a history of delivering Japanese stars to the diamond. Take the instance of veteran sluggers like the crazy, talented Ichiro Suzuki. Or the recent postseason heroes like Masahiro Tanaka and Hideki Matsui; the Yankees have a history of choosing Japanese sluggers for over two decades now.
According to MLB.com, there is an anticipation that Yamamoto will secure a contract valued at a minimum of $200 million. Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network reports that the Yankees and Mets are two of at least eight teams poised to pursue the 25-year-old player. Will the 922-strikeout hero join the Pinstripes, following in the footsteps of Suzuki’s mad skills? Or will he turn out to be like Kei Igawa, a bullet that demanded to be missed?
The Kodai Senga Experience That May Pull the Japanese Star to the Queens
The Yankees might have signed players like Tanaka for a staggering $155 million for a seven-year deal in the past. But they also have a history of passing off Japanese sluggers with better chances. A good example of that would be their missed opportunity with Kodai Senga back in 2022.
Last season, Senga stepped into the MLB scene as a one-man army. Equipped with a 1.94 ERA, 156 strikeouts, and a 1.06 WHIP across 22 appearances, Senga was a missile in the shape of a forkballer whom the Yankees could’ve developed into their weapon of mass destruction. But the Bronx Zoo wasn’t interested in going that way. So, they passed on Senga to one of their biggest rivals, the New York Mets.
Senga has been thriving like a well-watered flower in the Mets after accepting their $75 million, five-year deal. This season, he had a 2.98 ERA, striking out 202 batters with a 1.22 WHIP across the 166.1 innings that he pitched. Watching the Yankees fans regret their choice of not signing Senga and how the Mets used that chance as their leverage, Yoshinobu Yamamoto might just opt to side with the team from the Queens that already has his friend vouching for him from the infield.
Factors That Could Affect Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Decision: Vision of the Owners, Shohei Ohtani Sweepstakes, and the Rest of the Team
Hal Steinbrenner, the owner of the Yankees empire, is taking a very different approach to turning things around this offseason. He has been clear that the team will go through the changes necessary to call for better runs, better hits, and better personnel. Their 2023 season was disastrous with ‘disappointing’ drafting like Carlos Rodon’s or watching their offense struggle with their captain lagging with a toe injury. Hence, they don’t have a chance to commit costly mistakes at this point.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto can be a saving grace for keeping the team’s face intact in the upcoming seasons. The star pitcher is already making waves across the MLB with his NPB performances. The Yankees have pockets deep enough to entice the slugger into joining them. The huge recognition and respect that come with the role of being a Yankee are just bonuses. They already have four sluggers with nine-figure contracts working on their payroll. Hal isn’t likely to step away from adding another one if it benefits the team. But their contenders have some pretty interesting points to prove in 2024 as well.
Contrary to how Steinbrenner works with the Yankees, Mets owner Steve Cohen is very hands-on with his team. He attended a meeting with his coaches and players before selling team veterans like Max Scherzer off to their rival Texas Rangers. Previously, they signed two of the biggest deals for the 2023 season; they signed Scherzer and Justin Verlander for $60.3 million and $44.3 million a year, respectively.
Steve has never backed away from splurging on his players, although he has a history of taking them out after they consistently delivered poor performances. Should Yoshinobu Yamamoto choose to side with them, his form certainly isn’t a problem. Will the Mets agree to cross the $200 million threshold that the MLB market has put on the player?
MLB insider Ken Rosenthal indicated that the Amazins can probably offer much more money to Shohei Ohtani, another slugger with Japanese roots that both the Yankees and the Mets are running after. Ohtani’s deal could reach an unbelievable value of around $400 to $500 million. In Rosenthal’s words, the Yankees are making bolder moves to secure a win, but “if you are thinking about this, and you’re thinking about Ohtani possibly coming to the east coast… if he is willing to do that, the Mets are going to offer him the most money.”
Shohei’s choice of club may not just influence the teams in the Ohtani sweepstakes but also fellow Japanese sluggers like Yamamoto, who might have to consider the scope of growth if he gets the chance to play on the same team as Shotime. Will the past be any indication as to which way this wild contention will run its course?
What the Past Says: History of the Subway Series Free Agency Battle
The free agency battle has hurt the Mets in the past. Back in 2002, they had all the plans lined out to revive their offense, with 3B Norihiro Nakamura from Japan being halfway through his deal with the team. The Mets had drawn contracts, shaken virtual hands, and set expectations until the very last moment. Then they got the news that Nakamura had opted not to be with them at all, stating that playing in the MLB was a “tough choice”.
Read More: Amidst Fierce Yankees Pursuit, the Mets Prepare to Go All Out for Yoshinobu Yamamoto
They could’ve given up the hope of recruiting transatlantic players to the team after their ’02 stint. However, they did not. The Mets chose to play a game of luck with fate instead and won Senga as a reward. So, if history is any proof, the wise choice for Yamamoto right now would be to opt for a team that can support his future without harboring doubts about him and honor his talents for the deserved amount for a long time. Will he join forces with the Mets or their Subway Series contender Yankees for the upcoming season?
A Likely Destination That Fulfills Yamamoto’s Every Need
Yoshinobu Yamamoto stepped in as one of the most sought-after free agents in the MLB scene this season. Just a year ago, the Yankees had swept Tanaka off his feet, who used to hold that place. Yamamoto is likely to get a deal similar to Tanaka’s, which was a $155 million deal for seven years at $22 million per year.
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Yamamoto is just 25 years old now, with almost no record of facing an injury. That means he can fetch a $25 million-a-year deal based on just his form on the field, statistics aside. He has shown interest in wanting to pitch in a big market, and both the Yankees and the Mets can fill those shoes.
Although the Yankees have a history of splurging the most on their players, the Mets step up with both the cash and the loyalty; history is an important factor to keep in mind for a player who has the same representatives as the Mets’ Senga-Wasserman. Senga and Yamamoto’s past, along with their Wasserman connection, certainly give an edge to the Mets’ claim in the Yoshinobu race.
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Will we see Yamamoto become another high-paid legendary slugger in the history of the MLB? Or will he let all of his international fans down and choose to play inside Japan, like Nakamura? Let’s know your guesses in the comments below.
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