Yoshinobu Yamamoto was officially introduced as a Dodger on Wednesday afternoon, completing the formation of a superteam in Los Angeles that now includes Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, and Yamamoto as the newest additions to a team that won 100 games last season.
Yamamoto ended up with the Dodgers on a 12-year, $325 million deal after both the Yankees and Mets pushed hard for the Japanese star, but Yamamoto seemed to indicate at his introductory press conference that Los Angeles was where he wanted to be all along, even if the Dodgers hadn’t made a $700 million splash for Ohtani a week before.
“I wouldn’t say he was the sole reason I decided to come here,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “Even if he went somewhere else, I probably still would have ended up in LA as a Dodger.
“But on top of that, Shohei is obviously not just one of the best Japanese players, but he’s one of the best players period. In all of MLB. So to be able to play with him from here on out definitely means a lot to me.”
Perhaps the revelation gives Yankee and Met fans peace, knowing Yamamoto likely wanted to be on the Pacific coast with the Dodgers. Regardless, both New York teams will have to pivot to fill their rotations, while Yamamoto and Ohtani will enhance a star core already in place out west.