The battle of New York between the Mets and Yankees over Yoshinobu Yamamoto has fizzled, with the star Japanese ace choosing to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino confirmed.
The deal is for 12 years and $325 million, the largest total contract for a pitcher in baseball history. The deal includes no deferrals and a $50 million signing bonus. Los Angeles will also pay a $50.6 million posting fee to Yamamoto's Japanese team -- the Orix Buffaloes.
The deal with the Dodgers includes a pair of opt-outs, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. SNY had reported Yamamoto’s camp was seeking opt-outs after years five and eight.
Yamamoto had multiple meetings with both New York teams. SNY reported the Mets offered $325 million over 12 years. The Yankees offered $300 million over 10 years.
But now, the right-hander teams up with Shohei Ohtani who signed earlier this offseason on a 10-year, $700 million deal.
Earlier, Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns had flown to Japan to meet with Yamamoto -- a trip that also included the Mets' contingent meeting Yamamoto's family. The Mets' second meeting with Yamamoto took place last Saturday at Cohen's house in Connecticut.
As far as the Yankees, After flying to Los Angeles to have an initial meeting with Yamamoto, the Yanks had a second meeting with him on Monday in the New York area.
When it comes to where the Mets and Yankees go from here this offseason in their search for starting pitching, the expectation is that they'll be on different tracks.
The Mets -- still in need of multiple starters -- are likely to avoid the top end of the market, which includes Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, and instead target pitchers who won't command the type of deal in terms of both years and dollars that those two will get. One possibility is Lucas Giolito.
The Yankees, who have a lot of rotation uncertainty beyond Gerrit Cole, have considered a reunion with Montgomery and have also been linked to Shota Imanaga.
Regarding who the Mets and Yanks missed out on, Yamamoto was the best pitcher in Japan and is viewed as someone who could be an ace upon his arrival in the majors.
He has a terrific fastball and splitter, but also possesses an outrageous curve and a cutter. Yamamoto's impeccable command is also among the best in the world.
An absolute force during his seven seasons in Japan with a career ERA of 1.82, the 25-year-old put up truly absurd numbers over the last two years, including a 1.16 ERA and 0.86 WHIP with 176 strikeouts in 171 innings over 24 starts during the regular season in 2023 as he allowed just two homers in the process.
In Game 6 of the Japan Series (their version of the World Series), Yamamoto turned in an eye-popping complete game performance after getting hit hard in his previous start.
Over nine innings and 138 pitches, Yamamoto allowed one run on nine hits while walking none and striking out 14 -- a new Japan Series record.