Dodgers Rumors: Top Japanese Pitcher Likely to Be Posted This Offseason Linked to LA

Let's look ahead to the offseason...

There is still plenty of baseball to be played for the 2023 Dodgers.

Sitting comfortably atop the NL West standings, LA is primed for another run at the postseason and all the drama and excitement that comes with it.

But let's take a peak at the offseason just for a moment, to talk about some of the moves the Dodgers could make to improve their roster for next season.

Starting pitching is always a concern, and its importance was highlighted in the rotation woes the Dodgers experienced this season. With Walker Buehler missing the entire 2023 season, Clayton Kershaw missing significant time and now Julio Urias' recent arrest on felony domestic violence charges, the Dodgers have had to rely on multiple young pitchers to pick up the slack.

That's a big reason why acquiring an experienced and elite pitcher will likely be at the top of the Dodgers' offseason checklist.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a right-handed pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes who has been elite for essentially his entire career. With a career win percentage of .716 and ERA of 1.74, Yamamoto is one of the best pitchers to go through the Nippon Professional Baseball league in quite some time.

Yamamoto has won both Pacific League MVP honors and the Sawamura Award — given to the league's top pitcher — in each of the past two seasons. Scouts believe the 25-year-old could be an instant No. 1 option for ballclubs.

The Buffaloes are expected to post Yamamoto, meaning MLB teams will have a chance to sign the star pitcher with the club earning a fee based on the final contract.

Yamamoto has been linked to the Dodgers, who have sent scouts to watch him play in Japan. 

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com has the Dodgers among three teams linked to Yamamoto as potential landing spots, alongside the Mets and Red Sox.

While the Dodgers have plenty of fireworks left in 2023, they could be set to make a major splash in the offseason.