Yoshinobu Yamamoto Rumors: Dodgers Among 3 Finalists for Starting Pitcher, Says Insider

Will the Dodgers be able to add this coveted free-agent pitcher to bolster their rotation this winter?

Although the 2023-24 offseason is the winter of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, many other free agents can change the fabric of many MLB teams, including your Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Luckily for the Dodgers, they are the favorites to land Ohtani, but if worse comes to worse, there are other options to look forward to. The No. 1 priority for the Boys in Blue is to add starting pitching, and they'll look to sign another Japanese sensation in 25-year-old pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. 

Yamamoto is one of the highly-coveted free agents in this class, and one who the Dodgers have on their radar. According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, their chances of acquiring the international star are pretty high. 

Nightengale joined Doug McKain of dodgersnation.com on Dodgers Dougout. In the interview, Nightengale listed three teams as finalists for Yamamoto, including the Dodgers. 

“I think it’s down to the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets. I have a hard time believing it’ll be anyone else.”

(per Bob Nightengale via Dodgers Nation)

According to Sportsline odd makers, the Dodgers have the fifth-best odds to sign the righty sensation at +600. The other four in front of Los Angeles are the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and the two New York teams — the Mets at No. 2 and the Yankees at No. 1. 

Although he has yet to succeed in the MLB, there's no denying his talent and the amount of money he will garner because of it. 

“It’ll certainly pass $200 million. I think he’ll be the highest free agent pitcher out there. I think he’ll beat Blake Snell. But yeah, everybody wants this guy.”

(per Bob Nightengale via Dodgers Nation)

Yamamoto is the best pitcher in his home country of Japan. There's little doubt he'll find succeed in the major leagues, and hopefully, the Dodgers are lucky enough to acquire him whenever he chooses.