As of now, the New York Yankees’ investment in Gerrit Cole’s nine-year, $324 million contract, the most lucrative deal ever for a pitcher in total value, has proven to be worthwhile. In his four seasons with the team, Cole has consistently performed exceptionally, culminating in winning his first Cy Young Award last season. Despite financial commitment, the Yankees have found it to be a surprisingly efficient deal thus far.

According to Jeff Passan(ESPN) The Dodgers’ 12-year, $325 million agreement with Yoshinobu Yamamoto sets a new record for a pitcher’s contract, surpassing Cole’s deal by a mere million dollars. It’s a significant investment in a 25-year-old righty who is yet to pitch in a game in MLB, marking a bold move for the Dodgers. These figures do not include the $50 million posting fee that LA will pay the Orix Buffaloes.

Over a span of 12 years, Yamamoto’s average annual value of $27.1 million falls short of Cole’s $36 million and is lower than other elite pitchers such as Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom, and Max Scherzer.

Viewing Cole as the benchmark, if Yamamoto performs at a level similar, the Dodgers could benefit significantly from this deal. There are numerous reasons to think that Los Angeles has acquired a pitcher with the potential for All-Star-level performance and the upside of a generational talent.

Yamamoto, with two opt-out clauses in his contract, is set to receive a $50 million signing bonus, according to sources. In contrast to Ohtani’s agreement, where $680 million is deferred over 10 years, Yamamoto’s contract has no deferred payments.

This is all pending a physical. The agreement follows an eventful 48 hours during which the Dodgers beat offers from the New York Mets and the once-favored New York Yankees, who eventually proposed a $300 million deal. The Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays were also in contention, but the Dodgers, responsible for over half of MLB’s free agency spending this winter at just over $1 Billion USD, emerged victorious.

Yamamoto, a 25-year-old right-hander, has won three back-to-back MVP awards and Sawamura Awards in Nippon Professional Baseball. Since moving from the bullpen to Orix’s rotation in 2019, he has been unparalleled in the league’s 74-year history. Boasting a 1.65 ERA over 820⅓ innings. His impressive stats include striking out nearly five times as many hitters as walks and allowing just one home run every 28 innings.

Sporting a fastball that reaches an impressive 99 mph, a formidable split-fingered fastball, and a sweeping curveball that frequently leaves batters struggling, Yamamoto possesses an arsenal rivaling any pitcher transitioning from Japan to Major League Baseball. Despite his modest stature at 5-foot-10 and 176 pounds, teams eyeing him remained unfazed, focusing on the exceptional pitching abilities his physique can deliver.

He employs a distinctive training approach, emphasizing flexibility and movement rather than sheer strength. Yamamoto avoids weightlifting, opting for body-weight exercises, stretches, and extensive throwing sessions. Iincluding various-sized objects like soccer balls, mini javelins, and regular baseballs during long toss and bullpens. Evaluators note that his athleticism enables him to generate significant force on the ball, surpassing expectations for his size.

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By Vincent Quezada

Photo Credit: NBC Sports

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