Dodgers land Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Kyodo News

Dodgers make another splash by landing Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 12/22/23

The Dodgers' offseason just got better.

Late Thursday evening, reports surfaced that prized free agent Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto will sign with Los Angeles.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that the deal is for 12 years and $325 million.

Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on an 12-year, $325 million contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2023

Earlier this offseason, Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the organization, giving the Dodgers the two best free agents on the market this offseason.

After signing his historic contract, a report from The Athletic revealed Ohtani had deferred $680 million until the end of the deal, which freed up space for the Dodgers to sign Yamamoto.

By landing the seven-year former Japan League star, Los Angeles has shored up a rotation that was a question mark entering the offseason.

Earlier this month, the Dodgers also added former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow, – who logged a career-high 21 starts in 2023 and went 10-7 with a 3.53 earned run average – via trade after he agreed to a five-year, $136.5 million extension.

Last season with the Orix Buffaloes in the Japanese Pacific League, Yamamoto appeared in 23 games and went 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA in 163 innings pitched.

Ohtani (elbow) won't pitch again until the 2025 season, but when he does, the Dodgers rotation will be even more formidable.

Per oddschecker, the Dodgers (+450) are the favorite to win the World Series and those odds should only get more favorable for them after adding Yamamoto.

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