The New York Yankees are currently favourites to land Japanese ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. His current team has formally announced his MLB switch, and soon Yamamoto will be an MLB free agent. However, the Yanks will have to engage in an intense bidding war to land Yamamoto.
No team would want to pass on a starting pitcher of Yamamoto’s caliber. So, there is a good chance that the Japanese ace falls out of the Yankees’ lap. Under that circumstance, the Bronx Bombers must look for a cheaper alternative, and a future CY Young Award candidate seems a perfect fit. And at his current estimated market value, the Yanks can land him in a steal deal.
Blake Snell’s Free Agency Contract Predictions Sends Shockwaves In MLB Community!
Left-hander Blake Snell, who has established himself as one of the most talented pitchers in MLB, is heading into an important off-season. He will be a free agent in 2024 and would likely be the most sought-after pitcher after Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The former CY Young awardee is coming off another sensational season, which is good enough to land him his second CY Young award. He went 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA and 234 strikeouts across 32 starts. It’s the second time in his eight-year-long career that Snell recorded 30 or more starts per season. Thus, the injury history is an issue. But can that be a deal breaker for the Yankees?
Absolutely not. Blake Snell’s caliber is simply too good. Also, the latest salary projections should encourage the Yankees to make a strong push. Former MLB GM Jim Bowden projected Snell’s contract to range around $122 million for a five-year period. It sounds too good to be true for a CY Young candidate. But if the projections hold ground once free agency kicks in, the Yankees should be the first ones to poach Snell. There is no guarantee on Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s acquisition. If that deal cracks, the Bombers must have a backup plan, and that backup plan is Blake Snell. After all, the Yankees spent $165 million on a pitcher who had a relatively extensive injury history. Thus, going after Snell at a cost of $122 million should be a no-brainer.
Yankees’ Top Free Agency Target Issues Statement As His MLB Switch Request Gets Stamped!
Meanwhile, the Orix Buffaloes have officially stamped Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s MLB switch request. The Buffaloes announced via social media that the pitcher will be moved to the MLB market once the player posting process is complete. Ahead of the move, the ace issued a statement and expressed gratitude to Buffaloes for accepting his switch request.
Yosninobu Yamamoto spent seven years in NPB before deciding to take a leap. He played all seven years with Orix Buffaloes and led them to a championship in 2022 while acquiring two MVP awards. The highly touted pitcher now wants to try his luck at the big stage, which is Major League Baseball. If he manages to land with someone like the Yankees, the pitcher will surely attain success.
