Phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto Reportedly 'Open To Considering' Cardinals In Free Agency

St. Louis reportedly could be in the mix to land the young star this offseason in free agency

The St. Louis Cardinals may actually have a chance to land the top free-agent starting pitcher this offseason.

St. Louis needs to rebuild its starting rotation and already has gotten a start by reportedly reuniting with two-time All-Star Lance Lynn. The Cardinals still need to add two more starters and will be looking into landing multiple top arms. 

The Cardinals have been linked to a wide array of hurlers but the most interesting player available certainly is Orix Buffaloes phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The 25-year-old was posted Monday and likely will be the most sought-after free agent, aside from Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani. Although the Cardinals will have stiff competition for Yamamoto, he reportedly is open to St. Louis, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold.

"At the moment, it's a great conversation starter, more than an icebreaker," Goold said. "And it's going to get the Cardinals a seat at the table. Yamamoto is open to considering the Cardinals and St. Louis, according to multiple sources, and that is where any negotiation has to begin. Whether they meet the price of admission to stay at the table is next, and that process begins Tuesday."

St. Louis has plenty of money to spend this offseason -- although it may not be able to spend at the same level as the New York Yankees, New York Mets, or Boston Red Sox. Although the Cardinals may not have as much money as some of the competition, they do have a chance to land him, though. Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar has a relationship with Yamamoto and has spent time with him recently. That certainly could help. 

The Cardinals struggled in 2023, but do have an intriguing roster. St. Louis already has started to improve the rotation but if it could land someone like Yamamoto, it could be back in the postseason as soon as 2024. 

More MLB: Cardinals Reportedly Reunite With Former All-Star Hurler To Bolster Starting Rotation