Latest Yoshinobu Yamamoto Update Doesn't Bode Well for Dodgers' Chances, Or Does It?

How does LA fit in here?

One of the biggest free agents this winter is Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was just posted by his current team to start negotiating with MLB squads. The Dodgers are one of the teams around the league with the most interest in signing him, and they plan to be aggressive in doing so.

He is seen by many as the best pitcher to come out of Japan, and he would instantly bolster the Dodgers pitching staff. Yamamoto has ace-level stuff on the mound, and LA could build around him for years.

We don't know too much about what Yamamoto wants from his new team, but there have been reports that he may prefer to pitch on the West Coast, and that he wants to end up with a big market team.

However, his agent recently dropped some news about what he is looking for this winter. It seems that Yamamoto prefers to play alongside other Japanese players and that he plans to make his decision after the winter meetings.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto wants to play with other Japanese players, his agent told the Japanese media.

He plans to make his decision after the Winter Meetings. pic.twitter.com/NIJYY8wsRp

— Boston Sports Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) November 22, 2023

Right now the Dodgers don't have any Japanese players on their roster, but they are heavily trying to land Japanese two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani this winter. Ohtani is likely to sign before Yamamoto, so given the timeline, he could be a member of the Dodgers after the winter meetings.

It remains to be seen how this will affect the chances for LA to land Yamamoto, but it feels like the pitcher is waiting to see where Ohtani goes first. There has been talk about the Dodgers trying to get both Ohtani and Yamamoto, which would be a complete game-changer for the organization. 

The hope is that the Dodgers can land one of, if not, both players this winter to give themselves a much stronger chance to win the World Series next year and beyond. LA knows that they have to be proactive in this free agency, and it seems that they are planning to do so.