The Los Angeles Dodgers added to what had already been a wildly successful offseason by reportedly agreeing to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract. The deal is the richest for any pitcher in MLB history.
The value of Yamamoto’s contract with the Dodgers does not include a posting fee that is to be paid to the Orix Buffaloes. That amount is set at $50.6 million and was based on the deal Yamamoto received.
Any signing team owed Orix a posting fee that totaled 20% of the first $25 million of Yamamoto’s contract, an additional 17.5% of the next $25 million and 15% for any potential remaining total.
As part of the deal, Yamamoto also received opt-out clauses after the 2029 and 2031 seasons, in addition to a salary that’s somewhat backloaded, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
Opt-outs in Yamamoto’s 12-year, $325M contract with Dodgers are after years six and eight, sources tell @TheAthletic. Deal is somewhat backloaded. Yamamoto would walk away from higher salaries if he opts out.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 22, 2023
With opt-outs after six and eight years, the Dodgers were able to offer him similar terms to what he was asking the Mets for, but with the added benefit of one extra year, per Andy Martino of SportsNet New York:
Yamamoto’s camp was seeking opt-outs after years five and eight, making a highly questionable baseball commitment more palatable for Mets — essentially a five-year contract, if Yamamoto was healthy and effective.
With Ohtani and Yamamoto added, and Tyler Glasnow’s contract extension after being acquired as part of a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Dodgers have committed to spend more than $1 billion on the three players.
Each of them figure to play a key role in the team’s outlook during the 2024 season — and beyond — as the Dodgers look to bounce back from consecutive postseason flameouts in the National League Division Series.
Come 2025, the Dodgers starting rotation could very well feature Glasnow, Ohtani and Yamamoto.
Concerns with Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s opt-out clauses?
If Yamamoto opts out of his contract following the 2029 season, he would enter free agency at the age of 31 years old, or a free agent at 33 years old.
Although doing so would potentially end his Dodgers tenure much earlier than the lifespan of the 12-year contract, it also would likely indicate that the right-hander was a dominant force for them.
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