The Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes came to a close this week with the Los Angeles Dodgers agreeing to sign the Japanese phenom to a record-setting 12-year, $325 million contract.
Yamamoto was highly sought after due to his young age and ace potential. He ultimately chose the Dodgers over other big-market teams such as the New York Mets and New York Yankees.
Early in the process, the Yankees were said to be confident in their chances of landing Yamamoto. The team reportedly offered him a 10-year, $300 million contract and a higher average annual value than the Dodgers, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
The Yankees offered Yamamoto a higher average annual value than the Dodgers, an earlier opt-out and more money in the first five years, according to sources briefed on the respective proposals.
While Yamamoto’s deal with the Dodgers includes multiple opt-outs, the Yankees’ contract offer gave the right-hander an opportunity to test free agency again after the fifth year while the Dodgers’ deal is the sixth year:
The Yankees offered Yamamoto 10 years, $300 million ― an AAV of $30 million, as opposed to the Dodgers’ $27.08 million. The opt-out in their deal was after the fifth year, and the salaries each year were the same, with no money backloaded.
Meanwhile, the Yankees offered Yamamoto less guaranteed money than what Gerrit Cole received in 2019, and also did not include a $50 million signing bonus like the Dodgers:
What the Yankees did not offer Yamamoto was a record total value for a pitcher, surpassing the $324 million they guaranteed their own Gerrit Cole after the 2019 season. They also did not offer a $50 million signing bonus, though the parties could have shifted money into a bonus if the negotiations advanced.
The value of Yamamoto’s contract does not include the $50.6 million posting fee the Dodgers will pay to the Orix Buffaloes. Any signing team owed Orix 20% of the first $25 million of Yamamoto’s contract, an additional 17.5% of the next $25 million and 15% for any potential remaining total.
Moreover, Yamamoto’s contract with the Dodgers does not include deferred salary.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto ‘simply wanted’ to join Dodgers & play with Shohei Ohtani
While the Dodgers are signing Yamamoto to the largest contract for a starting pitcher in MLB history, one report suggested the 25-year-old chose the team due to his desire to play in L.A. with Shohei Ohtani.
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