Dodgers Focused on Signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Says The Athletic Insider

The Dodgers are determined to land the Japanese right-hander.

Entering the offseason, the Dodgers' main priority was to add to their starting rotation. The front office reportedly wanted to add multiple starters, and they've already gotten to work.

Even after trading for ace Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers still have work to do in their starting rotation. And it seems that they may just be getting started.

MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic is reporting that the Dodgers are focused on signing Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto right now.

"Yamamoto is their focus right now"@Ken_Rosenthal on what's next for the @Dodgers

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The Dodgers met with Yamamoto earlier this week at Dodger Stadium, and they pulled out all the stops. They had multiple players in attendance to meet with him, including the newest Dodger, Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtani and Yamamoto were teammates for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, and they know each other well. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts even said that Ohtani has been recruiting Yamamoto to come play with him in Los Angeles.

Dave Roberts on the @dpshow:

Dodgers are “absolutely” having Shohei Ohtani recruit Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

“They do have a good relationship. So hopefully everything lines up and it would be quite the offseason.“

Roberts said LA hosted him and thinks they did a “really good job.”

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) December 15, 2023

If the Dodgers are able to land Yamamoto, it would give them a true ace-level starter for their rotation. He has electric stuff on the mound and would be a true game-changer for the Dodgers.

Yamamoto has expressed an openness to playing alongside another Japanese star, per previous reports, and he may have a preference for the West Coast. Additionally, he grew up a Dodgers fan, which can't hurt the team's chances.

It seems that after landing Ohtani, L.A. is fully determined to land Yamamoto.