A flurry of rumors was sorted out after one of the biggest free agents closed their availability with the biggest deal ever at the MLB Winter Meetings. Now, the entire baseball world is focused on whom the next best free agent, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, will choose to side with. Cue the Yanks.

The New York Yankees have been heavily involved in actively pursuing Yamamoto for their lineup. They just secured a star outfielder for their hitting lineup. They need to sort out their pitching now, and they’ll become one of the winningest possible teams for 2024. A top MLB insider has some intriguing observations to make regarding the prospective deal.

Yankees’ strategic initiatives in Yoshi’s pursuit

One of the biggest hurdles for the Yanks to cross when it comes to clinching Yoshinobu Yamamoto is their rival, the Mets. They have made sure to leave no stone unturned, from their Japanese connection to the ace to their probable decision not to secure any other big name with a hefty price tag to keep a space for Yamamoto. It looks like the Yankees have certain plans set in motion as well.

According to NJ.com’s Max Goodman, “Yamamoto met with Yankees brass in Los Angeles on Monday, an opportunity for the organization to convince the 25-year-old that he should spend the foreseeable future taking the mound in pinstripes.”

The Bronx Bombers made a special gesture for the ace, back in November. They secured a jersey with the number 18 – one that Yamamoto played in during his NPB days. That showed how serious they are about getting Yoshinobu Yamamoto on their payroll. Speaking of payrolls, Yamamoto was predicted to receive around $200 million. But now several front-office executives believe he will get closer to $300 million.

However, while predicting “Where will the top remaining MLB free agents sign?”, MLB insider and The Athletic Columnist Jim Bowden said that the Yankees are the top suitors, who can go as high as $304 million for nine years to secure the 25-year-old ace in their team. While the $100 million jump in the prediction speakes volumes about Yankees’ desire to land this deal, there are alternative contenders standing in the Yoshi-queue.

Alternative contenders for the Japanese pitching standout

Beyond the intense tug-of-war between the Yankees and Mets for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jim’s analysis suggests several other noteworthy contenders. The Los Angeles Dodgers, the Texas Rangers, the San Francisco Giants, the Boston Red Sox, and the Chicago Cubs emerge as top contenders in the race for Yamamoto’s signature. Jim’s insights indicate that these teams are considered as particularly well-suited matches for the talented player, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the unfolding offseason negotiations.

Read More: Will the Yankees Follow in the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Footsteps, With Juan Soto’s Free Agency Next Year?

Nevertheless, if the Yanks can clinch Yamamoto’s pitching for the next season, they might just secure a World Series berth in the blink of an eye. Let’s hope all the die-hard Yankees fans’ dreams come true, shall we?

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