Yamamoto agreed to a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers on Thursday, denying the Mets their top free-agent want, according to SNY’s Danny Abriano.
The Mets, along with the Dodgers and the New York Yankees, were among the favorites to sign Yamamoto. Yamamoto was widely speculated to be joining a big market organization, with both Dodgers MVP Shohei Ohtani and Mets rookie phenom Kodai Senga strongly recruiting his fellow countryman.
After missing the playoffs with a 75-87 record, New York’s general office was willing to go all in on Yamamoto, even though their pitching staff performed admirably. Combining Yamamoto and Senga would have given the Mets two definite aces capable of suffocating opposition offenses and bringing the game to a close.
Yamamoto, who spent seven seasons in Japan’s NPB League, became a free agent this fall. In 2022, the 25-year-old was named to five All-Star teams and was crowned Japan Series and NPB MVP. In 2023, he struck out 176 batters while posting a 1.16 ERA and 0.89 WHIP.He now joins a Dodgers pitching staff that includes Shohei Ohtani and Bobby Miller, with the club hoping that former three-time NL Cy Young champion Clayton Kershaw would resign this winter. The Mets went 3-3 against the Dodgers last season and must now prepare to face Yamamoto when the 2024 season begins.
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