Prized free agent Yamamoto expected to be posted ‘any day’, the Red Sox are a possibility
The highly coveted right hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be posted “any day,” according to Andy Martino of SNY. The last Japanese player to be posted and make the jump from the NPB to the MLB was his former teammate Masataka Yoshida.
In less than 48 hours the Boston Red Sox signed Yoshida last offseason. Now, Yoshida could play an important part in recruiting Yamamoto to the Red Sox.
“Boston is another big market possibility, in part because of Yamamoto’s friendship with Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida,” wrote Martino.
Yamamoto is open to being the only Japanese player on his next MLB team which is not always the case, reported Martino. Of course, Yoshida is not the only play in the majors that could be an intriguing recruiter for his team.
The New York Mets has forkball pitcher Kodai Senga. Martino says the right hander has “made it clear to the Mets that he wants Yamamoto as a teammate.” He continues that “the Mets are very interested in Yamamoto.”
The Yankees are another team that is looking to land Yamamoto. While the Yankees do not have a Japan star on their roster, the pitcher does have interest according to Martino.
“Yamamoto is intrigued by the prestige and iconography of the Yankees according to league sources, making that team a very strong contender for his services. And, of course, is coveted by many other MLB teams.”
Yamamoto, 25, has established himself as the best pitcher in Japan since Shohei Ohtani. Since making his NPB debut as an 18-year-old in 2017, Yamamoto has posted a career ERA of just 1.72 with a 26.4% strikeout rate.
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