Dodgers Target Yoshinobu Yamamoto Officially Hits Free Agent Market

The Dodgers can now speak with him.

One of the major starting pitching targets of the Dodgers this offseason is now available for them to speak with. Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto officially has been posted and he can begin negotiating with teams starting at 5 a.m. PT Tuesday.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has officially been posted by MLB, per source. Major League Clubs have been notified, and they now have a 45-day window to negotiate with him beginning at 8 a.m. ET Tuesday, ending at 5 p.m. ET on January 4, 2024.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) November 20, 2023

Teams will have until January 4 at 2 p.m. PT to come to terms with the pitcher, otherwise, he will head back to Japan. With the hard deadline for him to sign, we could see the market for him develop rather quickly.

The Dodgers have a major interest in signing Yamamoto, and they see him as a front-line starter that they can build around. However, with the market expected to come together fast, LA can't sit on their hands like they normally do with free agents.

They need to be aggressive in going after him if they truly want him to be a member of the team. Yamamoto has electric stuff on the mound, and he would instantly bolster this starting rotation.

He is generally seen by most as the best pitcher to come out of Japan, and he is only 25 years old. Yamamoto could be the ace for the Dodgers for many years, which likely speaks to their high interest in him.

Dodgers inside Fabian Ardaya confirmed the interest shortly after the pitcher was posted.

Expect the Dodgers to be in the mix here. https://t.co/26yK3vj3Hw

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) November 20, 2023

Yamamoto also reportedly has a preference to pitch on the West Coast, which could end up helping the Dodgers pursuit of him. He also wants to play in a big market, further making the case for the Dodgers.

If LA is serious about wanting to upgrade their rotation, landing Yamamoto is a great way to start. His age and skillset are exactly what the team is looking for, and they have the money to land him this offseason.