Comparing Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Daisuke Matsuzaka
As has been case with much of the reporting of big-name free agents this offseason, the pursuit of Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been driven by a fair share of guesswork.
There has been, however, hints here and there that might offer some insight into the process. For instance, Alex Speier's report Tuesday night that Yamamoto's East Coast trip - which included visits with the Mets and Yankees - didn't involve the pitcher swinging by Fenway Park to meet up with the Red Sox.
While it would be dangerous to suggest the lack of a trip to Boston officially put the Red Sox on the outside looking in, it certainly didn't help change a growing narrative that the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets and Giants (all of which were able to host Yamamoto) are the favorites.
While no definitive numbers have been revealed when it comes to what it might take to compete for the highest bid in the Yamamoto Sweepstakes, it is understood that the price tag has likely crept toward $300 million. (Jack Harris reported the the Dodgers were ready to present an offer between $250-300 million.)
The Red Sox fully understand this is the cost of doing business. But the opportunity to pull of a maneuver like Dave Dombrowski did with David Price - offering $40 million more than the next-best offer - might not be a realistic strategy considering the financial heavyweights they are dealing with. (Also understand that because of the posting fee, a $250 million deal actually is about $290 million, and a $300 million contract would cost around $347 million.)
As was the case with Shohei Ohtani, this simply might come down to where he wants to live life as a perceived top-of-the-rotation ace. All we know for sure is this: Yamamoto (thankfully) does have a deadline to do a deal, needing to pick a team by Jan. 4.
And, once again, on the surface - even with Yamamoto's friendship with Masa Yoshida - the absence of a visit to Fenway wouldn't seem to suggest a love affair with the Red Sox. Maybe, like a lot of things, it is an element we are ultimately putting too much stock in, but these are the sort of bread crumbs we are left with.
While the panic among Red Sox' followers is growing - along with 'Full Throttle' memes and GIFs - there will be starting pitching options left after the Yamamoto deal. The issue might be that a musical chair-type of situation might evolve, with all those teams vying for Yamamoto - which also include the Phillies and Blue Jays - sharing the same need of Craig Breslow and Co.
And making the pursuit somewhat more complicated is that there will be other teams in the mix for these starters who weren't even involved in the Yamamoto chaos. The Angels, for instance, have reportedly expressed interest in Blake Snell.
There is Jordan Montgomery. There is Shota Imanaga. There is Lucas Giolito. There is Marcus Stroman. There is possible trades for Corbin Burnes or Jesus Luzardo.
There is time, and there are players to be had. But there isn't benefit of the doubt (or a lot of information). This is what we do know: It's a world that nobody in Boston is used to living just five days before Christmas.