Yoshinobu Yamamoto signs with Dodgers for 12 years, 325M

[Tokyo Sox]

YY had his introductory press conference today:
https://x.com/talkinbaseball_/status/1740150130781933756?s=46&t=xXa7NDH1fxja4LQsGlS2Ow
transcript of his prepared statement in English:

Good afternoon. My name is Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the LA Dodgers. I am beyond ecstatic to become a member of this historic franchise, and cannot express how much it means to me to be able to call Los Angeles my new home.

and also said his friend and ex-teammate Yoshida is the hitter he’s most looking forward to facing in MLB:
https://x.com/mlbnetwork/status/1740157770597273976?s=46&t=xXa7NDH1fxja4LQsGlS2Ow

Apologies to @InsideTheParker and other principled Xitter non-clickers; perhaps someone can figure out how to embed the videos without X being involved.

 

[CoffeeNerdness]

View: https://twitter.com/dylanohernandez/status/1740171857989657044


Guess he hasn't heard the "news".

 

[Bigdogx]

View: https://twitter.com/dylanohernandez/status/1740171857989657044


Guess he hasn't heard the "news".

Maybe brown is his favorite color .....

 

[Salem's Lot]

Maybe brown is his favorite color .....

I’m missing something. What do the brown dots on the map represent?

 

[Petagine in a Bottle]

View: https://twitter.com/dylanohernandez/status/1740171857989657044


Guess he hasn't heard the "news".

Did he mention the Red Sox? Did he!!

 

[chrisfont9]

After seeing the contracts Ohtani and Yamamoto got, I wonder if NBP will have a harder time keeping future star players from trying to leave earlier.

The current rules would give them no financial incentive until they turn 25 and can be posted for offers that aren't limited to the international signing bonus system. Players who pop by age 25 will more likely leave if MLB scouts think their success translates. But I'm not sure how many people will fit that description each year. Also your team has to agree to post you unless you've passed nine years of NPB service time. What's changed are the total dollars at the top of the market, but we've seen guys come over in previous markets so I'm not sure these eligible players were resisting MLB at all before this offseason.

 

[InsideTheParker]

. . . said his friend and ex-teammate Yoshida is the hitter he’s most looking forward to facing in MLB:
https://x.com/mlbnetwork/status/1740157770597273976?s=46&t=xXa7NDH1fxja4LQsGlS2Ow
Apologies to @InsideTheParker and other principled Xitter non-clickers; perhaps someone can figure out how to embed the videos without X being involved.

That's OK, I heard him say that on mlbn. I wondered if he wanted to face him b/c he reckons he can strike him out, or b/c he doesn't want to name one or another "slugger" and maybe offend others.

 

[chrisfont9]

I’m missing something. What do the brown dots on the map represent?

You don't want to know. Trust me.

 

[Bigdogx]

You don't want to know. Trust me.

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

I’m missing something. What do the brown dots on the map represent?

It’s the poo.

 

[Sille Skrub]

Moved the salary cap posts here

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Further terms:

• If Yamamoto has serious elbow trouble (TJ) in the first four years, the opt-outs in the contract are delayed two years
• If Yamamoto is ever traded, he can opt out immediately in the following offseason

https://apnews.com/article/yamamoto-dodgers-contract-6db9b90240352c39ebe08830c8c03c01

 

[brandonchristensen]

That elbow trouble opt out delay is interesting. Never seen something like that.

 

[Harry Hooper]

Further terms:

• If Yamamoto has serious elbow trouble (TJ) in the first four years, the opt-outs in the contract are delayed two years
• If Yamamoto is ever traded, he can opt out immediately in the following offseason

https://apnews.com/article/yamamoto-dodgers-contract-6db9b90240352c39ebe08830c8c03c01

I believe the bolded is a standard clause in all MLB contracts for a player signing a multiyear deal, or it used to be.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

I believe the bolded is a standard clause in all MLB contracts for a player signing a multiyear deal, or it used to be.

Aka "The Jay Payton Rule"

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I believe the bolded is a standard clause in all MLB contracts for a player signing a multiyear deal, or it used to be.

I don't think that's true. I don't recall anyone traded while on a multi-year deal ever having the option to opt-out from his new team unless it was a pre-existing opt-out in the contract.

 

[Fishercat]

That elbow trouble opt out delay is interesting. Never seen something like that.

Not quite to those terms, but the Sox did a similar clause with John Lackey where if he "missed significant time due to an elbow injury" that the Sox functionally got a free year on the tail end with a minimum. Felix Hernandez had a similar clause. Not the same but similarly spirited as elbow insurance.

 

[Harry Hooper]

I don't think that's true. I don't recall anyone traded while on a multi-year deal ever having the option to opt-out from his new team unless it was a pre-existing opt-out in the contract.

I was thinking (murkily) of this, but couldn't find it in the online copy of the MLB-MLBPA agreement

A player with five years or more major-league service who is traded in the middle of a multi-year contract can, during the offseason, require his new team to either trade him or let him become a free agent. If the player is eventually traded, he's not eligible to demand a trade again under the current contract and loses free agency rights for three years.

LINK

Would not apply to YY even if it is still in effect.

 

[Harry Hooper]

From the Newark Star-Ledger yesterday:

It was only a few weeks ago the Yankees were optimistic about bolstering their rotation with the best starter on the free-agent market. They badly wanted Yoshinobu Yamamoto and believed they had made a compelling offer to the 25-year-old Japanese superstar: a whopping $300 million over 10 years.

To say the Yankees were disappointed by Yamamoto’s decision to sign with the Dodgers is putting it mildly. They were shocked the right-hander agreed to a lower annual salary just to be teammates with countryman Shohei Ohtani. It was a defeat the Yankees’ ownership is still trying to recover from.

 

[Max Power]

From the Newark Star-Ledger yesterday:

It's not their fault he wants to be Scottie Pippen.

 

[Harry Hooper]

Heyman's tweet on YY's perks:

Perks in Yamamoto Dodgers contract: personal trainer; physical therapist, interpreter; 4 business class RT airline tickets ($8,500 max per RT) per year; 1 premium economy RT airline ticket to LA for use by family per year; best efforts to make Japanese food available.

OK, someone on the Dodgers' side bothered to get the family member's plane ticket reduced from business class to premium economy on a deal worth hundreds of millions?

 

[Petagine in a Bottle]

Best efforts to make Japanese food available? Is that really a challenge in LA in 2024, seems kind of crazy that they can’t commit to that, of all things.

 

[Marciano490]

Heyman's tweet on YY's perks:



OK, someone on the Dodgers' side bothered to get the family member's plane ticket reduced from business class to premium economy on a deal worth hundreds of millions?

Eh, we all got that asshole relative we still have to deal with.

 

[jmcc5400]

Best efforts to make Japanese food available? Is that really a challenge in LA in 2024, seems kind of crazy that they can’t commit to that, of all things.

They're moving Dodger Stadium to Olympic and Sawtelle.

 

[Max Power]

Best efforts to make Japanese food available? Is that really a challenge in LA in 2024, seems kind of crazy that they can’t commit to that, of all things.

Sometimes the GrubHub driver gets lost.

 

[Marciano490]

Cool video about Yamamoto’s training and delivery.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1j3pAtOsnR/?igsh=MWd3eXRzcHRnaXZiZg==

 

[jon abbey]

..."after meeting for three hours Dec. 14 with Yamamoto and his agents, and making a presentation that featured a video appearance by Bryce Harper, the Phillies offered more money than any team, according to multiple industry sources. That includes the Dodgers, who won the Yamamoto auction with a 12-year, $325 million bid that stands as the largest guarantee for any pitcher ever."

https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/phillies-yoshinobu-yamamoto-offer-middleton-free-agency-20240220.html (paywall)

 

[Bigdogx]

..."after meeting for three hours Dec. 14 with Yamamoto and his agents, and making a presentation that featured a video appearance by Bryce Harper, the Phillies offered more money than any team, according to multiple industry sources. That includes the Dodgers, who won the Yamamoto auction with a 12-year, $325 million bid that stands as the largest guarantee for any pitcher ever."

https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/phillies-yoshinobu-yamamoto-offer-middleton-free-agency-20240220.html (paywall)

Anyone who didn't see this coming directly after they secured Ohtani was not paying attention, it's why i laugh at the Red Sox dont spend crowd. No the Red Sox stink and free agents want nothing to do with the place right now is why they can't sign anyone!

 

[simplicio]

But apparently the Phillies also stink and free agents want nothing to do with that place either?

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

7 Ks in 4 2/3 innings yesterday vs. Seattle. But 8 hits and 4 earned runs. 3 starts, 8.38 ERA so far. Local anchor not impressed

 

[Max Power]

 

[santadevil]

After watching only his initial spring training innings, something didn't seem right to me
I had thought about posting something, but figured it was way too early
Fastball was flat and the secondary pitches weren't great

I assume it was more getting adjusted to the ball and seams
But my very early impressions are not great, at least for this contract level

So my way to early call, which I'll probably eat for years is...meh
Glad the Red Sox didn't sign him for that kind of money and length

I'm sure he'll figure it out throughout the year though

 

[Sin Duda]

Rocked for 5 runs in a single inning in his Dodger debut. For those mathematically challenged, thats an ERA = 45.00. Welcome to the majors, kid.

 

[ledsox]

First time this century that the Dodgers scored 11 and lost.

He mentioned after the game that he had an issue executing from the stretch. He only threw one pitch from the wind up to start his night. I guess in Japan he never gave up baserunners. Something to work on.

 

[Rice4HOF]

First time this century that the Dodgers scored 11 and lost.

He mentioned after the game that he had an issue executing from the stretch. He only threw one pitch from the wind up to start his night. I guess in Japan he never gave up baserunners. Something to work on.

Yup. If he can work on never giving up base runners, he could really be successful!

 

[Van Everyman]

Rocked for 5 runs in a single inning in his Dodger debut. For those mathematically challenged, thats an ERA = 45.00. Welcome to the majors, kid.

Won’t happen but few things would make my tiny black heart happier than if the Dodgers blew $1B on fool’s gold this offseason.

 

[JimD]

Rocked for 5 runs in a single inning in his Dodger debut. For those mathematically challenged, thats an ERA = 45.00. Welcome to the majors, kid.

He'll be fine once he unleashes his gyroball.

 

[Mugsy's Jock]

Rocked for 5 runs in a single inning in his Dodger debut. For those mathematically challenged, thats an ERA = 45.00. Welcome to the majors, kid.

Hell, Corey Kluber could've done that.

 

[Max Power]

He had a terrible spring training, too. I wonder what's going on. He pitched great at this time last year in the WBC, so he doesn't seem to traditionally start slow.

 

[JM3]

Hell, Corey Kluber could've done that.

Only if he upped his game significantly. Kluber's worst appearance last year was an 18.90 ERA.

 

[Remagellan]

First time this century that the Dodgers scored 11 and lost.

He mentioned after the game that he had an issue executing from the stretch. He only threw one pitch from the wind up to start his night. I guess in Japan he never gave up baserunners. Something to work on.

He's has such a short motion, why bother pitching from the stretch in games if that's such a problem? Let him work on that between starts, and let runners run wild if it means he'll be more successful getting the guy at the plate out.

 

[Remagellan]

He had a terrible spring training, too. I wonder what's going on. He pitched great at this time last year in the WBC, so he doesn't seem to traditionally start slow.

Do they use the MLB ball in the WBC?

 

[The Gray Eagle]

I have nothing personal against Yamamoto, but I am not a fan of "super teams" where all the biggest names take their talents to the same team for huge money and one team tries to corner the market on stars. It's all legal, they have every right, whatever blah blah blah.

I personally don't like it, and I love it if any team like that fails. (my own favorite teams excepted, obviously!)

The Dodgers will still probably win 100+ games, but for right now, I say:

 

[trekfan55]

And for thos inlcined to play Fantasy Baseball, plenty of drafs take place after the Korea series, which means you get him with that bad matchup to start as part of your pick/purchase.

But in all seriousness, it is one game and a good lineup (Padres) but at this time pitchers are ahead of batters and he really seemed out of sorts. I am sure this will not be his standard performance, but the Dodgers have to be sweating just a little bit.

 

[jon abbey]

After that first start, he has allowed just 6 ERs in 33 innings in his next 6 starts, a 1.64 ERA (2.91 including that first game).

 

[Tokyo Sox]

After that first start, he has allowed just 6 ERs in 33 innings in his next 6 starts, a 1.64 ERA (2.91 including that first game).

Could maybe have gone 7 today if a horrible missed 3rd strike call didn’t extend his 1st inning by 7-8 pitches or whatever it was.

He’s throwing the curve a ton which isn’t something I remember from here, but if they’ve identified it as a plus pitch and more of a differentiator than his FB for example — which guys used to swing through here but was getting crushed in the zone in MLB — then that appears to be a great adjustment.

Someone will surely have exact #’s but I think the announcers said today MLB average curve usage is like 13%, but Yoshi was up above 25%. He buckled several knees with it today.