Shortly after losing Game 7 of the Japan Series to the Hanshin Tigers, the Orix Buffaloes announced this morning that they have approved the posting of ace right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto to MLB. As noted by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the next step in the process is the formal declaration of a posting window, which will last 45 days upon being announced. Morosi suggests that the announcement could occur in the coming days. Yamamoto has long been expected to enter MLB free agency via the posting system this offseason, though today’s news marks the first official confirmation from the Buffaloes that Yamamoto will be posted.
Yamamoto, 25, has established himself as the clear best pitcher in Japan in recent years. Since making his NPB debut as an 18-year-old in 2017, Yamamoto has posted a career ERA of just 1.72 with a 26.4% strikeout rate. Incredible as those career numbers are, Yamamoto has been even more impressive over the last three seasons: from 2021-23, Yamamoto has posted an eye-popping 1.42 ERA with a 27.4% strikeout rate against a walk rate of just 5.1% across 557 2/3 innings of work. His most recent performance saw him record 14 strikeouts while allowing one run on nine hits and zero walks in a complete game for the Buffaloes in Game 6 of the Japan Series.
Scouts have widely regarded Yamamoto as a starter with top-of-the-rotation potential in MLB. Prior to the 2023 season, scouts suggested to Joel Sherman of the New York Post that Yamamoto could be considered a “full grade” ahead of right-hander Kodai Senga, who landed with the Mets on a five-year, $75MM pact last offseason in his first foray into stateside ball. Senga’s age-30 rookie season in MLB proved to be an excellent one, as he posted a 2.98 ERA and 3.63 FIP while striking out 202 batters in 166 1/3 innings of work. Needless to say, the idea of an ace nearly six years Senga’s junior widely regarded as the better pitcher of the two being available via free agency this offseason has to be nothing short of tantalizing for MLB clubs.
MLBTR contributor Dai Takegami Podziewski took a look at Yamamoto in the latest installment of his NPB Players To Watch series back in September, shortly after Yamamoto threw the second no-hitter of his career in front of several MLB scouts. Yamamoto’s unusual youth for a free agent and incredible upside figure to make him one of the most coveted free agents of the 2023-24 offseason. In MLBTR’s most recent Free Agent Power Rankings back in August, we had Yamamoto as the third ranked free agent to be on the board, behind only Shohei Ohtani and Cody Bellinger. The market for Yamamoto is expected to be among the most competitive of the offseason, with the Giants, Mets, and Cardinals among the reported suitors in addition to the Phillies, Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers, Dodgers, Tigers, and Diamondbacks, all of whom he’s been publicly connected to on some level or other throughout his final season before moving stateside.
If anyone other than a large market signs him, I’ll be shocked since this fouled up posting system is rigged for that like so many other things in MLB.
Straight up bled all the salt out of that ocean water for me? Thanks now I’ll I Need to do is purify?
Got on Adam Wainwrights burger phone? Called up California and asked how much for a BIG MAC and almost puked? He was much cheaper in 1997 when he was full of juice? Bio genesis ain’t got Steriods On Nelson Cruzs Boomstick
Newsome Newsome got McDonald’s caught up in a threescore? Trilliondollar debtonair? Looking like Sandy Koufax’s bleached hair
??? Wow that makes no sense at all. Can you redo the comment that a normal person can understand? lay off the acid when you redo the comment.
Yeah I agree. That might have meant something to him, but to us earthlings that was nonsensical.
coop – Maybe he’s an earthling who is in space ….. Spaceman ….
Gotta be Bill Lee
I think you might have dementia. Try drawing a clock from memory then see your healthcare provider. Use a real phone to contact them not your burger phone.
Only someone with a sick head can string together this combination of words that mean absolutely nothing.
This has to be one of the dumbest, if not the dumbest comment I’ve ever seen on the internet. Either way, clearly your brain cells are either fried or nonexistent.
Or he’s brilliant and u guys don’t get it
I think the whole process is ridiculous. Why do foreigners get to sign as free agents but citizens have to be drafted. Punish the locals but allow the foreigners to pick their team.
How about an international draft? Or even better, make them a part or the MLB draft?
Uhhh this guy isn’t an unknown quantity like a kid in the draft. This pitcher has a track record. There’s a chance he may end up one of the Top 3 starters in all of baseball next year.
And there’s a chance he gets destroyed by real hitting. He’s the exact same risk as a collegiate player.
This guy only gave up two homeruns all season, that stat blows my mind. I know that’s not sustainable once he gets here, but he will still suppress fly balls
Beff – Not nearly as much risk. The MLB track record for very good Japanese pitchers is much, much better than the MLB track record for collegiate players.
Think of it this way: Japanese pitchers have already proven they’ve got the velocity and the location. The strike zone in Japan is the same as North America, with the exception of vertically because MLB players tend to be taller. And since Japanese pitchers come to MLB at an older age, you aren’t taking a gamble by hoping their velo and location will improve over time. They don’t need to improve, they just need to maintain.
Higher floor than Skenes
He’s given up fewer homeruns in his entire NPB career than Lance Lynn gave up in 2023 alone.
The bigger MLB ball and his smaller hands will lead to more homeruns when he comes stateside.
@fever pitch, fair point.
It’s the NPB’s posting system, not MLB. Although, the new MLBPA contract covers this. It isn’t the driving force.
@Beff The “whole process” is what MLB has been willing to accept. Like Yamamoto, these guys are star players in Japan/South Korea. If they have to enter an MLB draft system, the foreign talent MLB wants to attract will simply not come bc the money will be limited or capped. MLB wants the best players in the world.
Beff – No offense, but you didn’t think before typing that.
These Japanese players are already professionals, getting paid like star professionals. You really think any of them would want to come to MLB if they are subject to 6 years of pre-arb and arb salaries? Usually in the middle of their prime no less?
And you expect them to leave their Japanese club midseason and join a MLB team midseason? Really? No spring training? And their Japanese team will allow them to leave midseason just like that?
SMH …..
How is the posting system rigged for large market teams? Didn’t the A’s just get Fujinami through the posting system last year? Rays with Tsutsugo. Padres got Ha-Seong Kim. Plenty of small market teams play in international free agency. I don’t see how the posting system is any different from 9 year international free agents like Akiyama that your Reds signed other than age at free agency limiting the value of a player like that. Yamamoto is going to sign with a large budget team because he’s one of the highest valued free agents just like Snell, Nola, Bellinger etc. not because of the posting system.
Kam – Speaking of Reds, didn’t they sign an international free agent named Chapman?
Let the madness begin!!!
I’ll be extremely disappointed if the Red Sox are not actively in on Yamamoto. If they offer 8/$200M and lose out, at least they tried. Some ridiculous offer like 4/$80M will show they are not serious about trying to sign him.
Dotty – They are actively in, Henry has learned his lesson … finally.
How much will it take to sign him I think it will be 7-210 plus payment to the team whose post him.
I could see a 10 yr/250 deal w/ opt outs @5/7years type thing.
Is the Fee based on the contract? How do opt outs work for the fee…idk…
Giants will be the top team to sign him. They need starting pitching and do not have much of a payroll losing their old players.
Rumors are the Japanese players think San Francisco is a dump. They aren’t wrong.
Agree but no more then Los Angeles, or any other city in California
Or some crummy fly over state.
sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2023-…
Once again name someone from the padres that said they will cut payroll. Give me a name.
Simm projecting his own feelings onto all Japanese baseball players.
AndyW projecting his own feelings onto all Japanese baseball players.
Balk – The Angels basically play in Disneyland, totally safe there unlike SF.
Dodger Stadium, well that’s a whole ‘nother story.
FeverPitch…born and raised in California, and finally left after 40 years….although the Angels bubble city looks a little better, it is not safe. Crime is out of control, homeless is out of control…my Uncle walks his dog every morning in La Mirada by his house, was robbed at gun point, as they were running off, one turns around and shoots for the fun of it and grazed his face…lucky to be alive. California is a horror state. If a player signs in that state, it’s for the money.
FPG – did you just call Anaheim a safe city?
LA and SF are miserable, crime ridden wastelands at the moment.
You can still take your family to games in Anaheim or San Diego and feel safe.
SIMM
Name someone from the Rockies who says they will be a fifth place team next year – and yet it will be so.
Team PR hacks are not going to broadcast that the team failed and that pull backs are planned. I am NOT saying that this will happen, I am just saying that statements from the team are not determinative. That is why I rely upon the professional investigative journalists who sound out their sources and ultimately we all see what happens.
I’m just thrilled to see this post about Yamamoto turn into a “let’s slag California” post.
It’s not like they had to worry about the DA in LA convicting him (or anyone else) of a crime any time soon.
California is not in top 30 states for crime.
I know In Seager… won’t see this because they Muted me, but what a foolish take to conflate his view of California with the team’s actions regarding Bauer, as if the Dodgers somehow represent all of California.
I supposed it’s time for me to Mute In Seager, too, and unsubscribe from this comments section that’s devolved so quickly.
worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/most-dang…
moneygeek.com/living/safest-cities/
What Is the Most Dangerous Major City in the United States?
The most dangerous city in the United States is Memphis, Tennessee. It has a violent crime rate of approximately 2400 per 100,000 people. Some of the other cities that are on the list include St. Louis, Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, Detroit, Michigan, and Springfield, Missouri.
The moral of the story is stay out of Missouri. And any state south and east of there including the state I currently reside in. Will be back in one of the safer states soon, Connecticut.
BIL – thanks to a certain political moron, it’s now fair game to ignore facts and just listen to the imbeciles from their favorite “news” shows without making any effort to find the truth. Deprogramming needs to be a serious thing…
When your state changes things like assault and domestic violence to non violent offenses it skews the numbers. You can also steal up to $950 and have it be a misdemeanor.
And even those are only reported when the police are actually called and show up; which happens rarely.
LA’s murder rates are back to early 90s levels after decades of improvement.
The average family is far safer walking through Memphis and enjoying nightlife than LA.
Simm — I’ve never read that. Where did you get your information?
So what you are saying is you don’t have one. Cool that’s all I asked.
HalosHeavenJJ — San Francisco is not a “crime ridden wasteland” any more than other major cities. This is a worn narrative.
@In Seager/Kershaw You couldn’t have spouted a more asinine piece of nonsense. Why am I responding to the most pathetic/morally obtuse troll on this web page? Don’t feed the trolls.
Are these just lies you tell yourself to sleep at night because you can’t make it in California.
I can find anecdotal and factual information that will show crime/homeless issues in all 50 states.
Do you have actual data to back this up because what I’ve seen and experienced are not this.
I agree with that
BaseballisLife, Forget the stats. Come to my house, we’ll work on my car for 30 minutes and leave all the tools in the driveway and go inside for coffee for 5 minutes.
When we walk back outside to finish working on the car EVERYTHING will be gone. Guaranteed 100%.
That’s reality. Not saying you’re wrong, just letting you know how it is.
gbs, don’t get so easily discouraged. Keep on keeping on.
You have good posts and opinions, I enjoy them. Keep it coming.
I have like 7 who mute me and I didn’t think I was too bad. It’s all in good fun.
Baseballislife, yes your stats are current for those serious crimes and stuff.
California’s all about theft right now. If it’s not locked down, chained down, or out of view.., it’s gone.
Andy – Around the stadium, yes.
Halos – That’s exactly what I did in May, Anaheim and SD only. I really wanted to visit Dodger Stadium and Oracle Park, but wasn’t worth it. Until the politicians do something about the crime, I’m staying away.
Life – Oakland is #3 and Stockton #10
But when people talk crime and safety, they are including car break-ins and theft, mugging, home invasions, property damage and theft, etc.
Bauer is SWM so he’d get convicted
Truth
So true!
Yea, that was true 40 years ago. You need to get out from under the rock. Gavin Newsome has your back LOL
Orange is such a good skin tone. Like the Oompa Loompas.
Halo, none of those things matter in the FBI data. I feel safer walking around the Staples Center than anywhere in Memphis or St Louis. I visit LA every year but will likely never go back to Memphis after witnessing several violent crimes while there for the Beale Street Blues Festival.
Also don’t watch Newsmax. It rots your brain.
Pete, my wife and I have spent a week in San Francisco every year for the past 40 years and while homeless are more visible I feel safer there today than at any time in the 1980s or 1990s.
Homelessness is much worse in Florida than the media let’s on. Only place I have ever seen that is worse is downtown LA.
Anecdotes are not facts. The facts are that California has a lower crime rate than Florida where I live and certainly than Missouri.
That is the same everywhere. In Jupiter we have groups of criminals that go into stores. Its an epidemic of retail crime.
The stats are clear though. California is not in the top 30 for crime. Not even burglary or retail crimes.
Muggings or robbery in Las Vegas is 25 times the rate in California as a whole. Memphis is even higher.
Its 5 times what it is in Oakland.
I can’t speak to Chavez Ravine security, but I can tell you walking to Oracle Park is beautiful day or night, Without crime unless you consider the area restaurants criminal for charging too much.
Simm – Cutting payroll is not something that teams tend to talk about. It serves no purpose to say publicly, and hurts the brand.
Life – That is an incredibly silly lie.
California’s homeless rate is 44 per 10K
Florida’s is 12 per 10K.
Florida didn’t release figures for homeless and hasn’t once since DeSantis has been governor. They didn’t even give HUD a survey of the homeless. Pretty easy to have low numbers when you don’t even count them.
Come to any major city in Florida and tell me what you see in terms of homeless.
twitter.com/WayneDupreeShow/status/167203345279796…
So please. Cut the crap.
Life – I suppose you think DeSantis is somehow “hiding” all the tent cities too? Don’t dispute numbers if you’re gonna claim every number that debunks your narrative is somehow fraudulent.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tent_cities_in_the_U…
Look at how many are in Cali, while there’s only three in Florida … Pensacola, Tampa and St. Pete.
Shameful of you to dispute what is common knowledge for anyone who follows national news.
Didn’t angels fans jump a pregnant woman by stomping her out while she was on the floor, putting her into early labor, and injuring the unborn child at angel stadium? There are fights at every stadium, and you have to be a complete pansy to be scared to go to a Dodger game in LA. If you’re not instigating stuff you’ll be fine, I go to about five games a season at Dodger stadium and have only seen one or two fights in the past ten or eleven years.
It’s going to be a lot of money either way for a middle of the rotation arm. Not a single Japanese “star pitcher” has ever enjoyed sustained success. Too early to tell for Ohtani, and he can’t stay healthy long enough to pitch anyways.
Kuroda, Tanaka and Darvish off the top of my head
Darkish absolutely has been great, but I do t recall him being one of the heralded “can’t miss” ones. I may be wrong.
He was
He was.
Pretty sure small market teams that would push back just as hard on a salary floor and cap.
They’re all “can’t miss” pitchers. Next offseason will be another one and so on. That’s why teams send scouts to evaluate, not reporters.
Then I stand corrected.
Beff – Yeah, you’re wrong. Darvish was much heralded.
And add Uehara, 2.66 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 9 seasons … and he was OLD when he got to the majors.
Fever, Koji was definitely amazing !! I remember the one year when he was out of this world and correct me if I’m wrong, didn’t he have the lowest whip in the history of baseball? Something around 0.60 or 0.70? Truly an amazing reliever and we were lucky to have him in town.
Dont forget about the OG Hideo Nomo!
Gary – Yes! His WHIP was 0.565 and his ERA was 1.09 in 2013 and during the 3-year period of 2011-2013 his ERA was 1.69 and his WHIP was 0.639
I’ve seen many great Red Sox relievers in my day, none were better than 2013 Koji and he was truly a pleasure to watch with his incredible exuberance.
As a comparison, Eck’s best 3 years of 1988-1990 he had a 1.50 ERA and 0.702 WHIP.. He finished Top 6 for both Cy Young and MVP each of those three seasons.
For Red Sox relievers, the only guy who comes close to Koji is 2006-2007 Papelbon who had a 1.35 ERA and 0.774 WHIP.
Think about this …. if Koji had been traded to the Red Sox instead of the Rangers in 2011, the epic Red Sox collapse never happens and Tito possibly remains as manager. But I don’t think there was any chance of the O’s trading Koji to a division rival.
fred – I was there for Nomo’s No-No …. good times!
I don’t believe there is a payment to the team required in this instance.
Agree with middle of the rotation arm. But with this fouled up system, he will get paid like an ace by one of the teams that can afford a miss.
rememberthecoop — There is.
Print – Posting fees are already established, no need to guess.
$100M contract = $16.9M fee
$150M contract = $24.4M fee
$200M contract = $31.9M fee
$250M contract = $39.4M fee
Just a little guy.
Well I see that San Diego had to get a 50 million dollar loan recently to be able to workers and players. Think they should make a rule that if you have to do that, they can’t bid for players posted.
And dodgers filed for bankruptcy in 2016. Rangers back in 2010. I’m sure there’s plenty of teams that have taken loans for a wide variety of things. So this is a pretty stupid idea cause then nobody would be able bid on players unless you’re the Rays A’s Orioles Pirates or anyone that keeps operating costs low
Think that’s just speculation. Don’t think there should be any conditions like that personally. If teams go over the CBT let them pay the penalties.
Then they might as well set a league-wide budget and mandate every team spends the exact same amount. Full blown communism is the answer!
A salary cap and floor is the answer but the large markets will never allow it and Robby the robot is content with his masters bidding.
Owners will never support a salary floor. MLB has far too many cheap owners.
A cap doesn’t work without a floor as the NFL has proven.
A cap, a floor and a very narrow corridor between the two.
No collective party involved in baseball will support either of those, owners or union..
wayneroo — No, but it would make MLB more competitive.
Stubby
Why?
Padres utterly failed last year but they were a highly entertaining media products.
Most fans loved seeing the Padres and Mets getting their chops busted big time. They were the baddies other teams loved to hate. Makes for fun drama.
What sucks? The teams that have payrolls under 90 million dollars. Fewer fans want to see teams where the owners are trying to squeeze an extra buck even though the monopoly gets them huge increases in equity value. Just look at attendance when a home team played the Padres or Mets compared to the Marlins, Pirates or Diamondbacks.
Philadelphia should give Nola their best offer with a 30 day time limit. If he doesn’t accept it, they should spend whatever stupid money it takes to sign Yamamoto.
This 100%
The Pads are out. Cutting back this offseason, they used up all their resources on a third shortstop…
They will definitely be one of the teams on him.
Cutting back? Says who? Pads are loaded and will be all in on Yamamoto, Nola, Snell, Montgomery, or trade for Burns
Padres have already stated that they must shed payroll.
Name a person from the padres that said that.
San Diego tribune certainly thinks they will be.
So you don’t have a name? You have a paper writer who is wrong more often than he is right.
Cool let’s believe that.
Probably more accurate than a dude in a comment section.
Lol leave that keyboard warrior alone! He identifies as being right dang it!
This is MLB Trade *Rumors*, not MLB Front Office Quotes.
by SD Untion Tribune you mean Kevin Acee a month ago. Acee (on two radio programs in one day) has since admitted it was pure speculation on his part.
It’s truly AMAZING that mlbtr and other sources continue to link to Acee’s old mistake despite Seidler and Preller saying over and over they don’t intend to cut payroll from last year hardly at all if at all.
Believe what you wish, insult those who don’t kiss a wrong beat writer’s toes, but critical thinking is recommended
Here, I did a critical think: The Padres would match last year’s salary just getting the band back together. So even if guy walked back his comments, it seems highly unlikely the Padres are playing at the top of the market this year unless they go full blown Cohen.
Here’s my critical thinking. All the Padres have to do to end the entire baseball media’s continuing mistake is release a one sentence statement reminding everyone of the intention to not cut payroll from last year. 10 minutes work. Can’t see why they wouldnt do that. Put out the media fire. Ease the minds of fans. Let FA’s know you are spending again. Instead of that, the CEO produces a wishy washy we will have a championship calibre team statement. Odd.
I’m sure Preller loves that there’s a rumor out there Pads not buyers. In fact, the notion (in Acee’s head) was probably planted by someone in front office.
@Andy. You’re correct, it will be interesting to see how things balance out. They shed a lot of salary since last year (Pomeranz, Wacha, Hader, Snell, Lugo, Martinez, etc…). But taking on more with Soto, Cronenworth, Tatis, etc… But 250MIL is more likely than the rumored 200MIL. If they do something flashy, more likely they do trades than FA
Ha ha. Of course he does. That’s why he chipped Rosenthal and the athletic for printing rumours from anonymous sources.
Dodgers could use him and Blake Snell. Forget about Ohtani
Ohtani won’t be getting that same mega deal now. He will still be massively paid, just not getting $500+MM
I’m guessing he will still get 500M even though he lost 100M due to the injury. I know that sounds crazy but when he signs, remember this comment.
Good for him if so, but very dumb for any team who does that.
Nah, only 45 million a year for 11 years!
Ohtani has been one of the best hitters in baseball and he is 2 years younger than Judge was when he got his big deal. He will get at least Judge AAV and more years.
He is also the biggest draw in the sport and its not close. A minimum would be 11/440 and that is if he announces he will never pitch again. He will get more than the minimum because multiple teams will be bidding.
Giants or Red Sox 10/275
I would love the Sox to spend this on him
Hail to the nah.
Hopefully he REALLY wants to play for a contender. No amount of Cohen Cash can convince Yamamoto that the Mets are in that category.
That’s what people said last year when it was Kodai’s turn in Free Agency. Look how that worked out.
He will be an SF Giant. Farhan will pay whatever it takes to get it done and done quickly since season ticket renewal season has begun, and along with Melvin, signing him will attract more free agents. Frankly, I’d be surprised if the Giants don’t end up with Bellinger AND Yamamoto.
Sadly, I do think you’re right. LA gets Ohtani, the next consolation prize for the team that missed out on everyone last year is Yamamoto.
I think Giants should prioritize Bellinger, Soto, or another mega-bat for that lineup. They need hitting stars as the priority imho.
Totally agree they need a franchise hitter to woo back the fans, but I get the impression Soto and Melvin weren’t “on the same page” in SD, so I don’t see that happening.
I heard on MLB Network that Soto led a group of players that went to the FO to complain about Melvin. Don’t think the Giants will be trading for him.
TellItGoodbye — Yamamoto AND Jung-hoo Lee, and a couple of trades.
Great timing coming off his worst start allowing 7 earned. He’ll get lit up in MLB after getting through the order once.. His future is out of a pen. He should consider staying where he is
Sorry Slider, His last game pitched was game 6, a CG, 1 run on 9 hits with 14 K’s and 0 walks
He’s thinking of Admiral Yamamoto.
My Magic 8 Ball says….drumroll please …either going to a NY team, or Giants.
No way. Kansas City for the win!
Kidding aside, I could see Baltimore or Atlanta as a sleeper here. Would fit nicely on either team.
Jays are signing him, book it
Robbie Grossman is the Derick Brassard of baseball.
Kid will be a stud for somebody. Would love it to be here but probably not happening.
With Kershaw and Buehler’s injuries along with Ohtani being unable to pitch, I wonder if LA targets him; perhaps even more than Ohtani.
Definitely Dodgers should target him
Everyone who needs a starting pitcher SHOULD target him…
I think the Dodgers will be chasing at least 2 starters. As of this moment, their rotation is too inexperienced with a handful of rookies and Miller who isn’t exactly a veteran. They still need a proven #1 ace in the rotation for Opening Day 2024. It would be nice to sign Yoshi but they should try for a veteran ace like Nola or Montgomery first.
15 years $700MM.
Go ahead Cardinals, sign him, I dare you!
There’s another pitcher in Japan who went 10-4 2.76 & 130K’s. He also doesn’t have a posting fee & also has proven himself as a MLB pitcher
Another handle of an agent or relative, I see.
That person won’t get a sniff mainly because of events going back to Cleveland. Hard to deal with in addition to questionable behavior. Don’t you wonder why folks in the game didn’t have his back? There is usually a reason.
I personally think the dude is bipolar but I am not a medical professional despite staying at a Holiday Inn once.
Wish him well in Japan. At least he still has a job making some good money.
A lot of Japanese pitchers are one trick ponies just like pitchers here. But while most here over rely on the fastball, over there it is usually overreliance on breaking pitches or movement. The trick both places is to be more than a one trick pony. Here they have to hit their spots because usually they have lesser velocity, mid 90s at best and usually low 90s.
I haven’t seen the guy pitch, but I’ll take the free trip to Japan to see him. Just going on reports that he is between a 3-5 starter. If so, not worth a 200 million contract to me.
He will go to which ever team knows how to drink Sake.
He was outside the top 100 pitchers in the NPB and is so toxic that no MLB team will ever think about signing him.