MLB Rumors: Yankees Remain 'Optimistic' on Yoshinobu Yamamoto After Meeting With Star

The New York Yankees reportedly "remain optimistic" about their chances to sign Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, according to Jack Curry of YES.

The Yankees remain linked to the top free agent pitcher on the market, though a number of teams are joining them in that pursuit:

The Yankees have already been busy this offseason, trading for outfielders Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo to bolster a major position of need. Up next, however, is improving the rotation behind superstar Gerrit Cole.

The Soto and Verdugo trades cost them a number of pitchers who had a shot to potentially crack the rotation in 2024, including Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez and Richard Fitts.

Carlos Rodón struggled in 2023 but will have a spot in the rotation. Ditto for Nestor Cortés. If those two improve, the team's rotation will look solid, and Clarke Schmidt is a viable fourth or fifth starter. But after that, a giant question mark appears.

"We're in the market for pitching [to] see if we can reinforce it," general manager Brian Cashman told Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News this offseason. "We like the pitching we have, but we also recognize that if we can add to it, it's important to do [so]. The rotation-bullpen combo, all the above, from an insurance standpoint or something established that you can plug and play with, we're going to continue conversations in that arena."

Yamamoto, 25, would potentially make the Yankees rotation downright filthy. He was 16-6 in Japan's Pacific League last season with a 1.21 ERA, 0.88 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 164 innings, winning the league's equivalent of the MVP for a third straight year.

If his game translates to the MLB level—and he signs with the Yankees—the team would suddenly boast a rotation with one of the highest upsides in the sport.

It's a big if, obviously, with a number of contenders circling after Shohei Ohtani landed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, removing the biggest free agent off the board. Yamamoto is likely the next major domino to fall, and if the Yankees sign him, they'll make a strong case for having the best winter of any team.