On Dec. 21, 2023, Yoshinobu Yamamoto agreed to a record-setting 12-year, $325 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It represents the longest and richest deal for a pitcher in MLB history.
As part of the signing, the Dodgers were required to pay a posting fee of $50.6 million to the Orix Buffaloes, Yamamoto’s former Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) club. That essentially increased the Dodgers’ total investment to $375 million.
Yamamoto’s contract with the Dodgers was made official on Dec. 27, 2023. He was formally introduced that day during a press conference in the center field plaza at Dodger Stadium.
The deal came on the heels of the Dodgers signing Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract and completing a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays for Tyler Glasnow.
Ohtani joining the Dodgers was believed to have been a big selling point for Yamamoto, along with wanting to win the World Series and his longtime admiration for the organization.
Yamamoto was one of the most coveted free agents in MLB history, which created a bidding war between several big market clubs. The right-hander’s decision reportedly came down to the Dodgers, New York Yankees Yankees and New York Mets. The San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays also made efforts.
Yamamoto went 17-6 with a 1.21 ERA, 0.86 WHIP over 24 games in his final season with the Buffaloes. He captured his third consecutive Eiji Sawamura Award, which is the NPB equivalent of the Cy Young.
In seven seasons with the Buffaloes, Yamamoto posted a 70-29 record with a 1.82 ERA and 922 strikeouts in 172 games.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s first season with Dodgers
Yamamoto struggled in his Dodgers debut against the San Diego Padres during the Seoul Series, but otherwise had a productive first half of the season.
The 26-year-old went on the 15-day injured list in June with a right rotator cuff strain, which came one day after he was removed from a start against the Kansas City Royals due to triceps tightness.
Yamamoto returned for four starts in September and ended the regular season on a high note. He finished 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 1.11 WHIP and 10.5 strikeouts per nine in 90 innings pitched over 18 starts.
Yamamoto went on to post a 3.86 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 15 strikeouts against six walks in four postseason starts.
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