Red Sox remain ‘financially aggressive’ for prized free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto, other teams remain hot after the pitcher
The Red Sox are hot on the trail for Japanese free agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Boston, Los Angeles and the New York Mets reportedly remain “firmly in the hunt” for Yoshinobu, per SNY’s Andy Martino.
The Red Sox met with Yamamoto and his representatives in Calf. last week and Masataka Yoshida was part of the recruiting process, per WEEI’s Rob Bradford.
To land the star pitcher, the Red Sox will need to pay for the 25-year-old. The Red Sox have only signed one pitcher to a major league contract, Cooper Criswell, to a one-year, $1 million deal.
Over the weekend, Yoshinobu had dinner with Mets owner Steve Cohen at his Connecticut home. He also met with the New York Yankees on Sunday night.
“The Mets have not yet made an offer, but industry sources expect that the Mets and Red Sox will be financially aggressive,” Martino wrote.
The Red Sox reportedly made a $300 million offer, "with causes and incentives convenient for both parties,” according to Marino Pepen.
MLB analyst and former general manager Jim Bowden added to the report saying the Red Sox and Giants made a “strong recent push” for Yamamoto.
"Certainly others too making strong runs," Bowden said.
The Yamamoto saga appears to becoming to an end. If the Red Sox land the starter, they would repair a lot of ill will with the fanbase over the years. If the Sox fail, they’ll need to pivot quickly to the likes of Jordan Montgomery, Shota Imanaga, Lucas Giolito and National League Cy Young award winner Blake Snell to improve their rotation.
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