Red Sox Are In Best Position To Sign Japanese Ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Boston has the clearest path to signing the biggest star on the market

The Boston Red Sox have typically been listed as a suitor for the top free agent available but they are almost always last among other iconic franchises.

Everyone is well aware of the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants' long-standing interest in Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto but the Red Sox appear just as motivated and have far less conflict than their aforementioned opponents. 

Let's take a look at what each team faces in their pursuit of Yamamoto.

New York Yankees
The Yankees just added impending free agent Juan Soto's roughly $30 million to a payroll that already includes Aaron Judges' $40 million annual salary, Gerrit Cole's $36 million, Carlos Rodon's $27 million, Giancarlo Stanton's $22.7 million and D.J. LeMahieu's $15 million.

After depleting their farm system to acquire Soto, it's almost guaranteed that general manager Brian Cashman will do everything he can to extend Soto -- who is tabbed to receive one of the biggest contracts in Major League Baseball history. The Yankees have plenty of money tied elsewhere and must face some financial restrictions in negotiations with the 25-year-old ace.

New York Mets
The Mets are coming off a season where they invested more than any other team in MLB history and the only thing they have to show for it was a draft pick that was moved 10 slots back due to luxury tax penalties. 

Mets owner Steve Cohen infamously met with Yamamoto in Japan but the latest reports are that the organization truly does not know where they stand. After SNY's Andy Martino tried to pretend for weeks that the Yamamoto sweepstakes were a two-team race between both New York franchises, he started to weave a storyline on Wednesday referring to the underdog Mets -- what a joke. 

He believes they have increased their standing as of late but he certainly changed his backstory and some believe he is actively tempering expectations. 

Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers just spent on the largest contract in the history of sports and like the Yankees, have a few high-paid superstars already on the books. Much has been made about the deferred Shohei Ohtani contract but his luxury tax hit is substantial. 

Now it appears that Los Angeles has a new plan to acquire an ace, which has to impact their interest in Yamamoto.

"The Dodgers are discussing a trade in which they would get right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot from the Rays for right-handed pitcher Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny Deluca," The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Wednesday.

Glasnow is owed $25 million next season and even if the Rays are capable of eating some of that contract for a better prospect, the young star will be costly.

San Francisco Giants
The Giants are fresh off signing Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year, $113 million deal and will pay even more in posting fees.

The Giants can afford to add more and will have the ability to be players in this race. However, if Boston is at the peak of their financial power under a new and motivated chief baseball officer, can San Francisco truly compete?

Boston Red Sox
Outside of Rafael Devers and to some degree Trevor Story and Masataka Yoshida, Boston is not committed to many long-term assets of any cost. The latter two options are not nearly among the highest-paid players in the game.

The Red Sox have been starved for star power and would be able to sign Yamamoto to a $250 million contract or higher today without limiting the team in the present or future. 

The Red Sox do not have a Soto or Pete Alonso on expiring deals, nor do they have players such as Stanton eating away at their payroll for years to come despite a lack of production. 

Chris Sale's contract expires at the end of the season and Boston's core of prospects are not far from taking center stage at Fenway Park. It would be easier for the Red Sox to absorb Yamamoto's deal than every team mentioned in the race. There is no reason why they shouldn't offer the biggest contract in the sweepstakes.

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