SUMMARY
- The Los Angeles Dodgers are making headlines by significantly investing in their roster for the upcoming season.
- The team has already spent an astonishing $1 billion, with a major portion going towards securing pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a historic $325 million, 12-year contract.
The Los Angeles Dodgers fans are in for a ride this upcoming season. The boys in blue are emptying out their pockets faster than their new pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 95 MPH fastballs! Looks like they are gearing up for a championship ring because the Dodgers are causing a stir by going all-in on their roster, having spent a whopping $1 billion already.
In a move that stunned the baseball world, the team made a historic $700 million deal with the two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani. And that’s not all – hot on the heels of this record-breaking deal, they’ve added another stellar player to their lineup. Of course, the same 25-year-old Yamamoto, who’s yet another pitching sensation from Japan.
How will Yoshinobu Yamamoto fit on the Los Angeles Dodgers roster?
A dynamic 178cm force, defying expectations and standing tall as one of the most formidable pitchers in MLB. Despite his height difference the Dodgers clearly see his potential. Securing him with a jaw-dropping $325 million, 12-year contract on December 27, making him the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history.
In the period between the unveiling of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s posting and the eventual announcement of his decision to join hands with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The phenomenal pitcher managed to keep his motivations shrouded in mystery, leaving fans and analysts in suspense.
During this spell of uncertainty, the New York Yankees stood out as the expected contenders for Yamamoto’s talents. However, the narrative took an unexpected turn as Brandon Gomes, the General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, offered a glimpse into the mystery during a podcast appearance on ‘The Show’.
According to Gomes, much like Shohei Ohtani before him, Yamamoto’s primary driver was the desire to win and a team that could lead him there. It seems, the allure of winning played a key in Yamamoto’s decision to join the Dodgers. And despite lacking the towering presence of his peers, his dynamic plays will make him fit right in.
The starting pitcher boasts an impressive streak, clinching three consecutive Sawamura Awards, Japan’s equivalent of the Cy Young Award. Throughout these three seasons, he consistently maintained an ERA under 1.70. According to sportingnews.com, Yamamoto’s injury record is pretty clean. Which also seemed to influence the team’s decision to empty out its pocket for him.
Before Yamamoto, for a span of four years, the New York Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole held the record for the most substantial pitcher contract in MLB history, standing at $324 million. And when it comes to yearly earnings. The top-paid players in the Major Leagues are starting pitchers. Max Scherzer of the Texas Rangers and Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros. Both command an annual salary of $43.33 million.