MLB Rumors: Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Be Posted Monday amid Dodgers, Phillies Buzz

The most highly-touted Japanese player to enter MLB since Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to be posted Monday, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. That means teams will have 45 days to negotiate with the star right-hander beginning Tuesday.

Yamamoto, 25, has been one of the most dominant players in Nippon Professional Baseball over the past several years, becoming the star of the Orix Buffaloes while winning nearly every major individual award.

He is expected to be pursued by nearly every major contender in MLB.

It's no surprise seeing why Yamamoto is so highly-coveted. He is a two-time Pacific League MVP, a three-time Japanese triple crown winner and the recipient of the Eiji Sawamura award—given to the top NPB pitcher—each of the last three campaigns.

Over the course of his professional career he's amassed a 70-29 record with a 1.82 ERA.

MLB scouts got an up close look at him back in the spring as he was a part of Japan's World Baseball Classic winning squad. In his two appearances he racked up a 2.45 ERA and 0.82 WHIP.

Naturally, there will be plenty of competition for Yamamoto from the biggest teams in the league. The New York Yankees, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox are interested, per SNY's Andy Martino.

It appears that the Philadelphia Phillies also have their eye on the potential star if starter Aaron Nola doesn't re-sign with the team in free agency.

According to the New York Post's Jon Heyman, some people around the league believe that Yamamoto may prefer a team on the West Coast due to its closer proximity to Japan. That means teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres can't be ruled out either.