In a landmark agreement, the Los Angeles Dodgers have secured Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a 12-year deal valued at $325 million.
This contract, awaiting final confirmation post a physical examination, marks the highest guaranteed amount ever offered to a pitcher, surpassing Gerrit Cole’s previous record by $1 million.
Notably, Yamamoto’s deal includes a $50 million signing bonus with no deferrals, contrasting Cole’s higher average annual value in his deal with the Yankees.
This historic signing follows the Dodgers’ recent pattern of high-profile acquisitions, having already signed Shohei Ohtani to a $700 million contract and extended Tyler Glasnow, cumulatively amounting to over $1.1 billion in off-season deals.
Despite an already robust pitching roster, the Dodgers have strategically reinforced their lineup, particularly in light of injuries to key pitchers like Walker Buehler, Dustin May, and Tony Gonsolin.
At 25, Yamamoto emerges as a formidable addition to the Dodgers. Standing at 5-foot-10, he boasts a formidable arsenal, including a mid-to-upper 90s fastball and several effective secondary pitches. His track record in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball is impressive, having secured the pitching Triple Crown, leading in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, and winning the Eiji Sawamura Award (Japan’s equivalent of the Cy Young) for three consecutive seasons.
Yamamoto’s potential was further highlighted in his final NPB appearance, where he delivered a 14-strikeout complete game. He also contributed to Orix’s Japan Series victory in 2022 and clinched gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The Dodgers hope Yamamoto will continue the legacy of successful Japanese pitchers in MLB, following in the footsteps of legends like Ohtani, Hideo Nomo, and Yu Darvish.
