Two swings and a miss.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the prized free-agent Japanese right-hander at the center of the Yankees’ and Mets’ offseason agendas, instead is going to Los Angeles, agreeing Thursday night to a seismic 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers.
The Mets’ made a 12-year, $325 million offer, according to The Post’s Mike Puma, which the Dodgers matched.
The Yankees’ offer was for $300 million, per The Post’s Jon Heyman.
It’s a massive letdown, for all the hope that was invested in a potential ace who has never thrown a pitch in anger in an MLB game.
As The Post’s Mike Vaccaro writes in his column, “This one hurts because for one of the few times ever, New York can share the same frustration. Yankees fans and Mets fans can wake up Friday morning and wonder: What about us? What about New York?”
Here are a few things to know about the record-breaking deal that allows the Dodgers to pair Yamamoto with superstar tentpole Shohei Ohtani:
• The $325 million contract includes the most guaranteed money for a full-time pitcher in MLB history, exceeding — purposefully, we can only imagine — Gerrit Cole’s $324 million deal signed with the Yankees after the 2019 season by $1 million.
• There is no deferred money in the contract, a feature that became a talking point when Ohtani deferred $680 million of his $700 million Dodgers deal, in part for luxury-tax savings that made it easier to sign Yamamoto.
• The contract contains a $50 million signing bonus. There are a pair of opt-outs, according to ESPN.
• The Dodgers — now fully in their Galacticos era — also are on the hook for a $50.6 million posting fee to the Orix Buffaloes, Yamamoto’s former team in Japan’s Pacific League. Combined with the Ohtani contract, the Yamamoto contract and Tyler Glasnow’s five-year, $136.5 million contract, it brings the Dodgers’ total financial commitments this winter to more than $1.2 billion.
So what now for the New York runners-up in these sweepstakes?
The Yankees are expected to continue looking for big-name reinforcements for their rotation after their splash trade earlier this month for superstar outfielder Juan Soto.
The top starters remaining in free agency are lefties Blake Snell (the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner), Jordan Montgomery (the former Yankee turned World Series-winning bulldog with the Rangers) and perhaps Shota Imanaga, another Japanese import. Josh Hader, the No. 1 available reliever, also remains unsigned.
The trade block potentially includes: the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes, the Guardians’ Shane Bieber and the White Sox’s Dylan Cease (who has two remaining years of team control).
The Mets were so keen on Yamamoto because, as a relatively young free agent at 25 years old, he fit their timeline to be “competitive” in 2024 while prioritizing contention in later years.
Expect the balance of their pitcher shopping to be of the short-term, medium-cost, “oh, yeah, that guy” variety.
The projected Mets rotation, for now: Kodai Senga, Jose Quintana, Luis Severino, Adrian Houser and, um, Tylor Megill.
They’re left, like the Yankees across town and baseball fans all over our area, to contemplate how it would have looked with Yamamoto’s name penciled in at the top. Oh well.
— Jonathan Lehman
Today’s back page
Tipping point
The NBA In-Season Tournament served its purpose, injecting much-needed meaning into the start of the season.
Christmas Day still remains the unofficial kickoff, when five high-profile games (Bucks at Knicks, Warriors at Nuggets, Celtics at Lakers, 76ers at Heat, Mavericks at Suns) fill the schedule and national TV airwaves.
The league has taken shape over the past two months, providing enough information to develop a strong sense for the title chase, the MVP race and the trade market, to know the potential paths the season may ultimately travel.
But so many questions remain unanswered:
Are the Nuggets still the team to beat?
Denver’s title defense is tough to judge with Jamal Murray missing 14 games due to injury.
It’s also difficult to gauge how much the regular season means to the defending champs — they went 7-10 to finish last season before a 16-3 postseason run — who still employ the world’s most impactful player in Nikola Jokic.
Who will win a loaded MVP race?
Five contenders currently stand above the rest:
• Jokic, the two-time winner, is nearly averaging a triple-double.
• Joel Embiid, the reigning MVP, is on pace to become the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to average more points (35.1) than minutes (34.1), along with a career-high 5.9 assists.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time winner, is averaging 30.9 points on a career-best 60.3 percent shooting.
• Luka Doncic ranks second in the league in points (32.7) and fourth in assists (9.1).
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a reigning All-NBA First Team selection, has led the Thunder to the West’s second-best record while averaging 30.7 points and a league-high 2.8 steals.
Will the Celtics’ shakeup put them over the top?
Boston entered the season as the most talented team on paper. The eye test confirmed it. Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday seamlessly slid into a lineup that shares the best record in the NBA (21-6).
But Porzingis’ health is a concern. So is depth. So are the repeated postseason shortcomings of a team with five conference finals trips since 2017.
Will any team swing for the fences?
The Knicks, Heat and Thunder are playoff teams, but they are unlikely to win more than one series without a significant in-season addition.
Oklahoma City, the youngest team in the league, could accelerate its timeline by tapping into its horde of picks.
Pat Riley could shoot for a high-level scorer after missing out on Damian Lillard.
The Knicks may be more reluctant following the announcement of Mitchell Robinson’s season-ending injury, but the Nets have five first-round picks from opposing teams at their disposal and may be a better fit for Donovan Mitchell.
Which star will be traded first?
Mitchell is under contract through 2025 and could stay in Cleveland into next season.
The Jazz reportedly are open to dealing 26-year-old All-Star Lauri Markkanen.
The Bulls seem certain to deal Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, and the Raptors could trade Pascal Siakam or O.G. Anunoby.
Usually, the biggest deals are the ones we don’t see coming.
Is Minnesota next?
The four biggest recorded longshots to become NBA champions have happened since 2010 — 2015 Warriors, 2023 Nuggets, 2019 Raptors, 2011 Mavericks — with those Warriors topping the list at 28/1 preseason odds.
The Timberwolves, owners of the best record in the Western Conference (21-6), held 66/1 odds when the season started. They have a superstar in Anthony Edwards, a defensive anchor in Rudy Gobert, depth, size and the top-rated defense in the league.
Any more excuses?
Embiid and Lillard, two of the best players of their generation, have largely managed to keep their respective postseason shortcomings from affecting their superstar reputations, a la Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley.
Lillard, 33, has won a total of four playoff series in 11 seasons. Embiid, 29, has never reached the conference finals. Either of their legacies could be elevated or stained by what happens this spring in the playoffs.
Can the old guard stay upright?
The Suns barely have seen Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal take the floor together.
The Clippers are relying on the historically unreliable trio of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis have logged heavy minutes for the Lakers.
How much will any of the veteran-led contenders have left in the spring?
What will the Warriors do?
Bob Myers saw the writing on the wall, leaving as Warriors general manager after last season. Steve Kerr’s contract expires after this season. So does that of the diminished Klay Thompson and 38-year-old Chris Paul. Draymond Green is suspended indefinitely.
Meanwhile, Steph Curry still looks as if he’s in his prime.
Would Golden State be willing to part with a member of its championship core (Thompson, Green) to extend Curry’s title window?
Can Ja Morant keep the focus on the court?
The star point guard likely has missed too much time to save the Grizzlies’ season (they’re 8-19), but Morant will still likely put on some of the best shows in the league. In his first game back from a 25-game suspension, Morant had 34 points, eight assists, six rebounds and the buzzer-beating game-winner.
Success will be defined by the 24-year-old’s ability to avoid another off-court incident.
Which rookie will stand tallest?
Predictably, 7-foot-4 generational talent Victor Wembanyama is a favorite to win Rookie of the Year, averaging 18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks for the Spurs.
Chet Holmgren is just as likely to claim the award, averaging 17.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks, and also has the third-best odds for Defensive Player of the Year. If team success is a factor, the 7-foot-1 Holmgren holds a huge edge.
Canyon of zeroes
Sunday’s game between the Jets (5-9) and Commanders (4-10) continues the annual tradition of meaningless December games for Gang Green.
The Jets will not make the playoffs for the 13th straight season, the longest stretch of futility among the four major sports. The Jets will also not be a division champion for the 20th straight season — the fourth-worst active stretch in the NFL — while extending the third-longest Super Bowl appearance drought to 54 years.
But they are not alone. Several historic droughts in New York are happening simultaneously:
Knicks: The championship drought would reach 51 years this spring, the fifth-longest in NBA history. Only two teams in the league have gone longer without reaching the conference finals (2000).
Nets: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden brought hope then disappointment, producing a total of one playoff series win in their short-lived stay. The 1976 ABA title remains the Nets’ most recent. The team has gone two decades without a conference finals appearance and 17 years without a division title, the third-longest drought in the NBA.
Mets: It has been 37 years since Jesse Orosco threw his glove to the sky.
Yankees: More than half of MLB teams (16) have made the World Series since 2010. The Yankees are not one of them. Their 14-year title drought — three shy of the franchise’s worst stretch as the “Yankees” — might as well be measured in dog years.
Giants: The last team to travel down the Canyon of Heroes — nearly 12 years ago — looks like royalty when compared with their neighbors.
Islanders: It has been nearly 40 years since arguably the greatest hockey dynasty of all time made its fifth straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Only two franchises in the NHL (Toronto, Arizona) have gone longer without making that trip. Only Edmonton has gone longer without a division title (1987-88).
Rangers: The owner of the second-longest Cup drought in league history (1941-93) is almost three decades removed from the Game 7 win in the Garden against the Canucks.
Devils: New Jersey is 20-plus years removed from the Game 7 win in the Meadowlands against the Ducks.
Red Bulls: They are one of three original MLS teams that have never won a title, and they are 15 years removed from their most recent MLS Cup Final appearance.
Liberty: Breanna Stewart ended one drought, bringing the team to its first WNBA Finals in 21 years. Still, the Liberty remain the only original WNBA team without a championship.
St. John’s: The Red Storm haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 2000. It’s the lowest bar Rick Pitino has ever had to clear.
U.S. Open: American men dominated the event for decades, but none has left Queens with a singles title since 2003 (Andy Roddick), contributing to the country’s worst-ever grand slam drought.
Three full days of football
Week 16 is the rare NFL slate featuring three days with multiple games. Happy holidays.
Bengals (8-6) at Steelers (7-7)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, NBC
No Joe Burrow. No Ja’Marr Chase. Yet, the Bengals, riding a three-game win streak, are favored at Pittsburgh. The Steelers have lost three straight games and will give Mason Rudolph his first start of the season at quarterback.
Browns (9-5) at Texans (8-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Backup quarterbacks will decide this battle between potential playoff teams. Cleveland has won back-to-back games with 38-year-old Joe Flacco. Houston will be without C.J. Stroud (concussion) for the second straight game, putting 35-year-old Case Keenum back under center for a must-win game.
Jaguars (8-6) at Buccaneers (7-7)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
The Jaguars were in contention for the 1-seed. Now they aren’t even a lock for the postseason. Looking to avoid a fourth straight loss, the Jaguars may be without Trevor Lawrence (concussion), who is questionable to make his 49th consecutive start. C.J. Beathard would make his first start since 2020 against the Bucs, who control their fate in the NFC South after winning three straight games.
Cowboys (10-4) at Dolphins (10-4)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
The two highest-scoring teams in the NFL both have fared poorly against their toughest opponents. Neither team may be a true championship threat, but they may combine for the most entertaining game of the season.
Ravens (11-3) at 49ers (11-3)
Monday, 8:15 p.m., ABC
The Super Bowl XLVII rematch is the most likely matchup for Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. The Ravens and 49ers, the top two defenses in the NFL and two of the four highest-scoring offenses, each hold the inside track for the 1-seed in their respective conferences. Brock Purdy could put a bow on an improbable MVP season — he had 50/1 odds in the preseason — by outdueling former MVP Lamar Jackson.
What we’re reading 👀
🏀 With Mitchell Robinson sidelined for the season and Isaiah Hartenstein pressed into first-string duties, we look at some of the Knicks’ options if they look to acquire a center.
🏈 Giants mainstay Sterling Shepard reflects to The Post’s Paul Schwartz about facing his final days with Big Blue.
🏈 The Post’s Brian Costello puts a positive spin on the Jets: They enter the 2024 offseason with a much shorter to-do list than usual.
⚾ Alex Verdugo wrapped his head around his Red Sox ouster and got an early start on shaving for his Yankees introduction.
⚾ David Stearns is quietly working to improve the Mets’ defense.
🏒 It’s been a merry season for the NHL-leading Rangers.
🏀 The Pistons lost their 25th game in a row. Mercy.
⚽ The Super League chatter is back in European soccer.
Read more
