Yoshinobu Yamamoto Makes Most Sense for Atlanta Braves
If the Atlanta Braves are serious about acquiring a frontline starter this offseason and spending big money to do so, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the perfect fit.
While the Atlanta Braves may have lost out on the bidding for Aaron Nola, reports suggest they were willing to go as high as $27 million a year for the 30-year-old. That's certainly something we haven't seen Alex Anthopoulos do during his time as the GM. But if those reports are to be believed, then perhaps there is plenty of money to spend this offseason.
(We saw Josh Donaldson sign for $23M in 2019, but that was a one-year deal. -Ed.)
And if that's the case, then going after Yoshinobu Yamamoto should be a no-brainer.
One of the biggest reasons why we haven't seen AA spend big on free-agent starting pitchers is because you never want to get caught giving a lot of money to aging starters.
But that's not the case with Yamamoto, who will be going into his age 25 season. It's a rare opportunity to sign a top-of-the-rotation pitcher who is entering into their prime.
Of course, every team knows that and it's why Yamamoto is set to break the bank when he signs.
But if the money is available to spend, and will all of the position players locked up, it makes the most sense to spend that money on a young, top-of-the-rotation starter.
Even as someone who would have rather seen them give the money they offered Nola to extend Max Fried, signing Yamamoto makes even more sense.
There are always concerns with how international players will translate to playing at the big league level. And every pitcher comes with a ton of injury risk.
Everything you hear about Yamamoto is that he's ready for the challenge after posting a 1.82 ERA in seven seasons in the NPB with 922 strikeouts in 897 innings.
The 45-day window for teams to submit a contract to Yamamoto starter at 8 am CT on November 21, 2023.
MLB Trade Rumors projects him to get a 9-year deal for $225 million, which is $25 million a year.
The club that signs the star free-agent pitcher will also have to send money to his team in Japan, the Orix Buffaloes, via posting fee, which is projected to be around $30M.
The length of these contracts is always a hold-up for Alex Anthopoulos like in previous negotiations with Freddie Freeman and Nola.
But given the age of Yamamoto and the window the Braves are in, giving him a 9-year deal with a $25 million AAV and possibly an opt-out after four or five years if he wants to hit the open market again sounds like a great deal for the Braves.
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