The Mets and the Yankees are expected to be among the MLB teams vying to sign Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency this winter, and here is yet another reason why they want YY.
The Orix Buffaloes ace hurled an absolute gem in Game 6 of the Japan Series, with 14 strikeouts and no walks over 138 pitches in a 5-1 complete-game victory over the Hanshin Tigers to force a decisive seventh game on Sunday.
Yamamoto, who is expected to be posted by Orix this winter, went 16-8 with a 1.21 ERA and a 0.844 WHIP with 169 strikeouts in 164 innings this season.
His 14 strikeouts in Game 6 set the record in Japan Series play, breaking Yu Darvish’s previous mark of 13 in 2007.
The Yamamoto bidding is expected to start around $200 million over six or seven years, which would far exceeded the $155 million deal Masahiro Tanaka signed with the Yankees in 2014, the richest MLB contract received by a pitcher leaving Japan.
Shohei Ohtani aside, Yamamoto is expected to be among the most coveted starting pitchers on the market this winter alongside Padres starter and potential National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell.
The 25-year-old right-hander could perhaps become the latest Pacific Rim star to come stateside.
Last offseason, the Mets signed Kodai Senga to a five-year contract worth $75 million last winter, and he produced an excellent rookie campaign with a 12-7 record and 2.98 ERA with 202 strikeouts over 166 1/3 innings.
Yamamoto also has been linked to the Red Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Tigers, according to Post baseball columnist Jon Heyman.
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