The Los Angeles Dodgers (Shohei Ohtani) and New York Yankees (Juan Soto) have already landed two of the prized players available during the MLB offseson.
Los Angeles inked Ohtani to a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract. New York acquired Soto in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres.
It now appears that the two are battling it out for the top remaining player on the MLB free agent market. Jon Heyman of the NY Post reported on Thursday that the two are co-favorites to land Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Both Los Angeles and New York have already met with the stud 25-year-old pitcher. They were seen as one of the teams in on him.
As for the Dodgers, they sent pretty much anyone of substance to meet with Yamamoto earlier in the week. That included the aforementioned Ohtani.
Both Los Angeles and New York have needs in the starting rotation.
Of those returning for the Dodgers, only Bobby Miller put up north of 100 innings pitched with a sub-4.00 ERA last season. Clayton Kershaw is currently a free agent and will likely miss a majority of next season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Julio Urias is also a free agent and finds himself in legal hot water. Meanwhile, veteran Lance Lynn signed with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Related: Los Angeles Dodgers meeting with top MLB free agent as team goes all in
Ohtani’s $700 million contract calls for $680 million deferred and just $2 million per season throughout the span of the deal. This enables Los Angeles to go out there and add more high-priced players to the mix. Yamamoto’s contract value could end up reaching $300 million with the longest duration in history of MLB for a pitcher.
New York is in somewhat of a different situation. It dealt away potential starters Jhony Brito, Michael King and Randy Vasquez in the Juan Soto blockbuster. Struggling pitcher Luis Severino also signed with the New York Mets in free agency.
Related: Juan Soto fails to quiet rumors he’ll be a one-year rental for the New York Yankees
AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole heads the Yankees’ rotation. After that? Well, there is not much. Free agent signing Carlos Rodón struggled with injuries and performance (6.85 ERA, 1.45 WHIP). Clarke Schmidt figures into the equation, but he also struggled to a 4.64 ERA and 1.35 WHIP a season ago.
Either of these teams acquiring Yoshinobu Yamamoto would be an absolute boon. He’s seen as a generational talent and someone who can anchor a rotation for the next decade. During his seven-year run in Japan, the righty pitched to a 1.72 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.