The New York Mets are already seen as a serious contender for Japanese free agent Yohinobu Yamamoto and a team insider recently revealed two things that should strengthen those chances when MLB free agency begins.
While many teams began making plans for the offseason over the last few weeks, the New York Mets began looking toward this winter all the way back in August. That’s when they threw up the white flag on what was a disastrous first half of the season and decided to be sellers at the trade deadline and bolster their minor league ranks.
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Due to some of the debt they took on in several key trades for top-end prospects, the organization is not expected to splurge in free agency like years past. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t make a big move. While they and many other big market teams have been linked to a pursuit of MVP candidate Shohei Ohtani, his fellow countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto may be a bigger priority.
Heading into the offseason, improving the starting rotation is a primary goal and the 25-year-old ace is quickly rising up the ranks of the pitching market and is, arguably, the best arm available this winter. However, the Mets will likely be competing against other wealthy teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants for his services.
Kodai Senga has reportedly pushed New York Mets to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto
That is why anything that helps or hurts their chances is massive in such a hot pursuit. On Monday morning, The Athletic’s Mets insider Will Sammon looked at the team’s chase for Yamamoto and offered up two interesting tidbits that should improve their ability to land him.
Firstly, not every free agent — especially from Japan — wants to compete in a pressurized situation. However, Sammon revealed that “Yamamoto covets the opportunity to play in a large market, league sources say.” That is important because there is no bigger and more media-dominant market than New York. It would also make sense if the success Kodai Senga had this season for the team showed how easy the transition from Japan to the Empire State can be.
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Speaking of Senga, his spot on the roster has an effect, but not in the way you might think. Due to the importance of seniority in Japanese culture, some players who make the move to the US do not like playing on the same roster as their countrymen. However, that may not be problematic for Yamamoto.
“League sources said that Yamamoto’s experience playing in the World Baseball Classic with other stars from Japan helped influence his thinking” in regards to Japanese teammates in the US. Furthermore, the older Senga has reportedly made it known to Mets brass he would very much welcome the chance to lead their rotation alongside the young star.
It will be an extremely difficult pursuit but the Mets continue to look like a top contender for Yamamoto.