Much of the talk for this MLB offseason will revolve around Shohei Ohtani and for good reason. The Angels superstar is the best player in baseball, and arguably the best player we've ever seen. We have never, and will never see anything like him again.
Ohtani will get a majority of the headlines, but his fellow countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto won't be too far behind. The electric right-hander showcased his elite talent at the World Baseball Classic for Team Japan in the Spring and has posted a 1.26 ERA in 20 starts and 143 innings pitched for the Orix Buffaloes this season.
Yamamoto is expected to be posted by his team this offseason as he prepares to make his move to MLB, and his stock has only risen after he completed the second no-hitter of his career on Friday night. Several teams will be in on the 25-year-old, but these five teams are the best fits for him.
1) Yoshinobu Yamamoto free agency fit: New York Mets
All Yoshinobu Yamamoto costs this winter is money, and nobody has more of that than New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. That's just one of many reasons why the Mets are an obvious fit for this right-hander.
First, Mets GM Billy Eppler has had a ton of success recruiting Japanese talent. He was the one who convinced Shohei Ohtani to come to Anaheim when he was their GM. He was the one who got the prized Japanese pitcher of last offseason, Kodai Senga, to come to the Mets. Both of these players have broken out with their respective teams and are stars.
The Mets won't be going as all-out as they did this season to try and win the World Series, but Yamamoto isn't a win-now move. Sure, he'd certainly help, but he's only 25. This isn't the same as the Mets giving record-breaking AAVs to Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander at the end of their careers to help win now.
The Mets' goal of winning the World Series has shifted to 2025 and beyond, and Yamamoto will be right in the prime of his career at that time. He'd have the opportunity to adjust to the majors for a season alongside Senga, play in the biggest market in the world, and with Steve Cohen operating, could easily wind up with more money than he'd get anywhere else. It makes too much sense.
2) Yoshinobu Yamamoto free agency fit: Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a team that will be looking to win in 2024 after a surprisingly good 2023. Chicago was a team many thought might compete for a playoff spot, but ultimately didn't really have enough. Now, at 76-67, Chicago holds the second Wild Card spot in the NL and even has a puncher's chance at the division title.
The Cubs have an ace in Justin Steele, but their rotation in 2024 beyond him is a big question mark. Marcus Stroman has a player option for $21 million that after a solid 2023 campaign he seems likely to decline. Kyle Hendricks has a $16 million club option that Chicago could decline as well. They have some promising arms like Jordan Wicks and Javier Assad and do have Jameson Taillon locked in, but especially if Stroman leaves, Chicago could really use a number two starter.
The Cubs have a ton of money to spend with them only having the 12th-highest payroll in baseball this season, and seem likely to spend a large chunk of it. They should be players for Shohei Ohtani, and if they miss, Yamamoto is not a bad consolation prize whatsoever.
With him in the fold, the Cubs would have their one-two punch with him and Steele for the next half-decade at least.
3) Yoshinobu Yamamoto free agency fit: Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies have an interesting offseason ahead of them. Both Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen are set to hit free agency with Zack Wheeler only one year away from reaching free agency as well. Their rotation could look very different in just a couple of years, and with that in mind, this offseason could be a good time for them to land a pitcher like Yamamoto.
Nola has had himself a miserable contract year which could lower his value, but could also scare the Phillies away. Should Dave Dombrowski give Nola the massive contract he's seeking after this down year? Or would a pitcher who happens to be five years younger and could be better right away make more sense for Philadelphia?
There's no guarantee as to what Yamamoto will be able to do at the MLB level, but he doesn't have a 1.76 career ERA in Japan by accident. The right-hander is extremely talented, and could even take his game to the next level playing against the highest competition.
If the Phillies let Nola walk, they'll need another pitcher to put with Wheeler for the 2024 season at least at the top of their rotation. We know Philadelphia will spend, and we know they'll have interest in the 25-year-old as long as he's interested in them. The Phillies' aggressiveness could very well land them a strong 1b in Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
4) Yoshinobu Yamamoto free agency fit: New York Yankees
When Yamamoto was walking off the field after completing his no-hitter on Friday night, one face that was front and center was none other than New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman. He was one of many scouts and executives at that Yamamoto start, and they were all in for a treat.
The Yankees splurged last offseason on a pitcher when they signed Carlos Rodon to a six-year deal, but that deal hasn't worked out at all for them. They do have Gerrit Cole locked in at the very least through 2024 (likely much longer) and also have Clarke Schmidt who has had a nice year and Nestor Cortes who was good last season, but the rotation could use some work.
The Yankees have some intriguing pitching prospects in Drew Thorpe and Chase Hampton just to name a few, but those arms won't be ready for Opening Day next season. It's certainly possible the Yankees sign a stop-gap until they're ready, but it's also possible they splurge once again and bring in Yamamoto to be their number two behind Cole.
Both Luis Severino and Frankie Montas will be hitting free agency this offseason and it's extremely likely that neither will return to the Bronx. The spot is there for Yamamoto to take, but with the Yankees needing offense more, I'd say it's less likely he ends up there. They still cannot be ignored due largely to the fact that they clearly like him enough to be seriously scouting him.
5) Yoshinobu Yamamoto free agency fit: Los Angeles Dodgers
All signs seem to be pointing at Shohei Ohtani joining the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason. It makes too much sense for it to not happen. The Dodgers are out west where Ohtani wants to be, have the money to offer him the richest contract in MLB history, and are a postseason team each and every year.
The Dodgers make the most logical sense, but let's say it doesn't happen. That leaves the Dodgers with a whole lot of money to spend, and with their rotation a giant question mark, Yamamoto could be an easy target for them to pursue.
Clayton Kershaw is a free agent after the year. Lance Lynn has an expensive team option Los Angeles will likely not exercise. Julio Urias is a free agent after the year. Walker Buehler will be there, but 2024 is his final year of team control and he was out all of 2023 after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. Tony Gonsollin just underwent Tommy John and will be out. Dustin May could be back from his injury sometime around the halfway point of the 2024 season.
The only real confirmed member of the Dodgers 2024 rotation as of now is Bobby Miller. That's it. The Dodgers will need arms, and they'll need arms to be there for more than just one year. Yamamoto could be a fixture at the top of their rotation for the next six or seven years if they want him to be. Ohtani is their target, but don't be surprised to see them in on Yamamoto even if they land Shohei.
