There’s no escaping the buzz surrounding Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Japanese pitcher who was posted by the Orix Buffaloes last month.
The Yankees have been heavily linked to the superstar right-hander, whom they’re looking to bring to the Bronx. And on Monday, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale shared that he believes in that outcome.
“I think [the Yankees] are the front runner for Yamamoto,” Nightengale said on “Foul Territory.” “He’s the opposite of Ohtani. He wants the spotlight, he wants the fashion, all that kind of stuff. I think it’s between the Yankees and Dodgers. I won’t eliminate the Mets, because they’re still in New York. But I can’t see him signing anywhere else.”
Yamamoto had a 1.21 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 169 strikeouts in 164 innings this season. The 25-year-old also saw his third consecutive sub-2 ERA season and collected his third Eiji Sawamura Award (the Japanese version of the Cy-Young.)
Yamamoto is expected to command at least $200 million in free agency.
