The New York Yankees have several positions of need when it comes to the lineup.
As of right now, we don’t know who will be their long-term third baseman, left fielder, and catcher; and their center fielder of the future, Jasson Dominguez, just tore ligaments in his elbow and could miss multiple months of the 2024 campaign.
However, a team can never have enough quality pitching, and the Yankees seem to be enamored with Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Yamamoto was a star in the World Baseball Classic, as Japan captured its third title.
He has also been one of the best pitchers in his native country for years.
He made history over the weekend, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was there to see it.
“Yoshinobu Yamamoto, expected to be posted this winter, threw a no-hitter Saturday in Japan. Yankees GM Brian Cashman was there to see it along with special assistant Omar Minaya. Yankees pro scouting director Matt Daley was just in Japan looking at Yamamoto, among others,” Yankees insider Erik Boland tweeted.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, expected to be posted this winter, threw a no-hitter Saturday in Japan. Yankees GM Brian Cashman was there to see it along with special assistant Omar Minaya. Yankees pro scouting director Matt Daley was just in Japan looking at Yamamoto, among others
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) September 9, 2023
Yamamoto has youth on his side: he just turned 25, yet he has pitched in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league since he was 18.
Pitching for the Orix Buffaloes, he has a career 1.84 ERA in 876 innings in the circuit.
That’s absurdly good, and the Yankees know that he could make for a legitimate co-ace to accompany Gerrit Cole and, hopefully, an elite Carlos Rodon.
In 2023, he has a 1.20 ERA in 150 innings.
There could be a bidding war for Yamamoto this winter if he is indeed posted, but he seems to be worth every penny.
NEXT: Jasson Dominguez Comments On His Crushing Injury News
