MLB Rumors: Yankees in 'Solid Position' with Yoshinobu Yamamoto Ahead of Meeting

The New York Yankees appear poised to add another dynamic pitcher to the starting rotation.

Andy Martino of SNY reported that club owner Hal Steinbrenner and others in the front office will be meeting with Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Los Angeles Monday and that the Yankees "are in a solid position in this sweepstakes."

The 25-year-old is widely believed to be the best arm available during this free-agency cycle and has been linked to various teams, including the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yamamoto spent the past seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. He has been a dominant force in that league, posting a 70-29 record with a 1.82 overall ERA. He went 16-6 in 2023 with 1.21 ERA and 169 strikeouts.

He took home three Pacific League MVP awards, three Sawamura awards and was named an NPB All-Star five times. He was officially posted by the Buffaloes following the 2023 season and will make his MLB debut in 2024.

The Yankees have been successful in developing Japanese players in the past, with Masahiro Tanaka and Hideki Matsui being recent examples. There was talk that those two players would be involved with the meetings, but Martino said they would not be in attendance.

The Yankees starting rotation already boasts 2023 Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole and experienced southpaws in Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rodon. Adding the right-handed Yamamoto could solidify this rotation as among the best in the league and help lead the team back to the postseason.