Yoshinobu Yamamoto Rumors: MLB FA to Meet with Phillies amid Dodgers, Yankees Buzz

Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is meeting with representatives of the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

That's not the only team the highly-anticipated Japanese free agent has spoken with this week.

The San Fransisco Giants met with Yamamoto Sunday, according to ESPN's Buster Olney, while the New York Mets spoke with him Monday, per the Post's Greg Joyce.

The Los Angeles Dodgers met with the pitcher on Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal.

After recording a 1.16 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 171 innings and 24 games in the Japanese professional league last season, the 25-year-old is anticipated to become a starter in the MLB.

Heyman has previously named the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays as other potential candidates to sign Yamamoto.

The Blue Jays were also a frequently-mentioned name in the race to sign another coveted free agent, two-way star Shohei Ohtani, before he went to the Dodgers.

Although the Dodgers and Yankees have dominated headlines as favorites in the bid for Yamamoto, the Phillies could throw their hats in the ring as the team looks to add pitching depth after coming two wins short of a trip to the 2023 World Series.

After signing right-handed starter Aaron Nola to a seven-year deal in November, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the team's 2024 starting rotation will for now feature Zack Wheeler, Nola, Ranger Suárez, Taijuan Walker, and Cristopher Sánchez, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Alex Coffey.

Coffey noted that the next player up given an injury to that starting rotation is, at least for now, uncertain.

If the Phillies want to fill that hole in the pitching depth chart with Yamamoto, it will cost them. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported in September that Yamamoto could command more than $160 million.

As one of the deepest-pocketed teams in the league, the Phillies could potentially afford that, but it remains to be seen if they can outsell pitches from bigger markets. According to Ardaya and Rosenthal, representatives present at the Dodgers' meeting with the Japanese pitcher included Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.