Yankees Reportedly Front-Runners To Land Phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Yamamoto will make his decision soon and it sounds like the Yankees are the favorite

The New York Yankees certainly are in an interesting spot. 

New York has shocked the baseball world already this offseason. The Yankees landed superstar slugger Juan Soto in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres and clearly are going all in this offseason.

The Yankees entered this offseason with two major roster flaws. New York needed to add some power in the middle of the lineup with outfield help, and a frontline starter to help the rotation.

New York already has improved the outfield and now needs to help stabilize the rotation. The Yankees are heavily pursuing Orix Buffaloes hurler Yoshinobu Yamamoto and it sounds like his decision may be imminent. 

It's unclear where he will go, but the Yankees remain the front-runner to land him, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

"Getting closer on the Yamamoto signing, we do expect that he will sign before the end of the calendar year and indeed very likely before the end of this week," Morosi said. "He now has I think a very good picture of where the greatest interest is. I said on this show yesterday that the Yankees are viewed by many as the frontrunner and I still think that is the case. 

"It would take I believe a tremendous offer from either the (New York Mets) or (Los Angeles Dodgers) to pull him away from the Yankees just given his longstanding connection and affinity there. 

New York's biggest competitors for Yamamoto clearly are the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Boston Red Sox. At this point, it seems like the Yankees may be the most likely club for Yamamoto but things could change.