While the New York Yankees are sure to be active again in MLB free agency this winter, a team insider believes they will prioritize the chase for the most sought-after international player on this year’s market.
Although the New York Yankees maintained their over 30-year streaking of winning seasons, their 2023 campaign was still a major disappointment. They had the reigning MVP, Gerrit Cole delivered the best season of his career, added big-ticket free agent Carlos Rodon, and the majority of the same team that helped to win 99 games in 2022 were back. Yet injuries and poor play led to a sad 82-80 record.
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Obviously, the team needs to make some notable changes in the offseason and that is expected to happen. While much of this season’s roster will return in 2024, that doesn’t mean the wealthy franchise won’t pay to add to the group they already have. And there has been a lot of speculation about their pursuit of baseball unicorn Shohei Ohtani, but it seems the team may prefer a different Japanese star.
As teams get closer to the start of the offseason, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a name that continues to grow in notoriety as it becomes clearer that many teams are interested in the Japanese ace. The 25-year-old is expected to be posted in the coming months and be up for grabs to the highest bidder. The New York Yankees are considered a contender, however, their interest may be more serious than some realize.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be a top priority for New York Yankees in MLB free agency
Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Yankees reporter Brendan Kuty delved into the organization’s plans this winter and explained why Yamamoto is high on their priority list.
“Many teams have been linked to Yamamoto, who recently turned 25 years old and is likely the best pitcher on the market not named Shohei Ohtani,” Kuty wrote. “But the Yankees have been on him as much as any of them, and general manager Brian Cashman was in attendance alongside special advisor Omar Minaya when Yamamoto threw a no-hitter this season. Cashman’s presence was a clear sign of the Yankees’ intent to charge hard after him.”
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Yamamoto has been outstanding during his short career. He’s won Nippon Professional Baseball’s Pacific League MVP and what is their equivalent to the Cy Young award. Over his seven-year career in Japan, he is 70-29, with a 1.72 ERA, and has averaged just over night strikeouts every nine innings to just two walks.