Red Sox Reportedly Will Meet With Phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto This Week About Deal

The Boston Red Sox reportedly will be meeting with the top free-agent pitcher shortly about a possible signing.

Boston needs to rebuild the starting rotation and reportedly is aiming to land the best pitcher available this offseason. The Red Sox need another top-of-the-rotation true ace and reportedly will meet with Orix Buffaloes phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the next few days, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

"Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has already met with the (New York Yankees), (New York Mets), and (San Francisco Giants), will meet with the Red Sox in the coming days, per source," Feinsand said. "Two or three more teams - including the (Toronto Blue Jays) - will also likely meet with him, sources said."

Yamamoto seemingly has been the Red Sox's top priority so far this offseason and he should be. He is just 25 years old and if the Red Sox could land him, they would have a much-needed ace for the foreseeable future. Plus, if Brayan Bello can continue to develop at the rate he has then the club would have two solidified studs at the top of the rotation.

Boston needs to continue to add, but if Chris Sale can remain healthy and return to form, the Red Sox would have a very solid rotation with those three. Yamamoto has a robust market and Boston has plenty of competition for his services but the fact that it has made it this far in the sweepstakes is encouraging.

Yamamoto likely will land a deal close to $300 million in free agency. Boston can afford it and should hand it to him as fast as possible.

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