The battle for Yoshinobu Yamamoto
It has become one of the most fascinating free agent pursuits in recent memory.
Not only is the focus a top-of-the-rotation pitcher at the rare free agent age of 25 years old, but virtually every perceived big market team is making him a priority. The Yankees. The Mets. The Phillies. The Red Sox. The Dodgers. The Blue Jays. The Giants.
Everybody wants Yoshinobu Yamamoto. That we know. What we don't have a good grasp on heading into this new week is which way Yamamoto is leaning.
This is what we do know:
- The Red Sox have met with Yamamoto and his representatives in California. At some point, the pitcher's former teammate - and current Red Sox outfielder Masa Yoshida - was part of the recruiting process.
- It was reported over the weekend by both Marino Pepen and Jim Bowden that the Red Sox' offer was in excess of $300 million, joining the Giants in such levels of financial commitment. Pepen also surfaced that Yamamoto had accepted an invitation to visit the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
- As SNY's Andy Martino first surfaced - and reiterated on the 'Baseball Isn't Boring' podcast - Yamamoto requested another meeting with the Mets, ultimately having dinner at owner Steve Cohen's house. This after Cohen had flown to Japan in order to meet Yamamoto.
- Yamamoto also requested a meeting with the Yankees after already meeting with the pitcher in Los Angeles. Martino classified the get-together as "hastily assembled", but one that left the Yankees with "cautious optimism" heading into these final days of the recruitment.
- Yamamoto's meeting with the Dodgers was seemingly highlighted by the presence and pitch presented by Los Angeles' newest star, Shohei Ohtani. Martino cites someone close to the situation as saying that Ohtani's involvement was "highly significant."
- It is believed that the Yamamoto saga is coming to a head, much to the relief of the other high-end free agent pitching options. It is believed the Red Sox - along with the other teams involved in the pursuit of the prized Japanese starter - are at the ready to quickly pivot to other names if Plan A falls through. Jordan Montgomery, Shota Imanaga, Lucas Giolito and Blake Snell are some of the names being mentioned.
- Even though Snell has a qualifying offer attached - meaning the team that signs him would have to surrender a draft pick after the completion of Round 4 - the Red Sox are believed to have interest in the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner. Snell is not reportedly on the radar of the Dodgers, who are still building the top of the rotation even after acquiring Tyler Glasnow.