New York Yankees Saving This Uniform Number For Superstar Free Agent

The New York Yankees have been keeping this uniform number warm for this superstar free agent.

It's all in the number?

According to SNY's Andy Martino, the New York Yankees have been saving uniform No. 18 over the past year in preparation of signing Japanese superstar starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. 

As Martino also mentioned, No. 18 was Yamamoto's number with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan, and is considered the ace number in the country.

Former NPB ace and Yankee, Hiroki Kuroda, wore No. 18 in Japan and with the Yankees. Masahiro Tanaka wore the number in Japan, but wore No. 19 with the Yankees because Kuroda was still on the team.

The Yankees, who were scouting Yamamoto in Japan, purposely did not issue No. 18 to any player on their roster last season. Outfielder and 2022 trade deadline acquisition Andrew Benintendi was the last Yankee to wear the number.

Per SNY, Yamamoto will be taking in-person meetings with teams after Winter Meetings in Nashville next week. Yamamoto is expected to land a long-term contract north of $200 million in free agency. 

In addition to the Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox have all been linked to Yamamoto and have No. 18 available on their roster.

The New York Mets have also been linked to the Japanese ace, but are retiring No. 18 next season for Darryl Strawberry. The Mets signed fellow Japanese ace Kodai Senga last winter for five-years, $75 million. Senga finished as the runner up for the NL Rookie of the Year in 2023.