Yoshinobu Yamamoto Is An L.A. Dodger, Signing 325M Deal Spanning A Dozen Years – Deadline

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed the coveted pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a Japanese free agent and three-time winner of Japan’s version of the Cy Young Award, given to the outstanding pitcher.

Yamamoto, just 25-years-old, was considered the prize pitcher of this winter’s free-agent market, with every big market team in pursuit. The Dodgers won with a reported 12-year deal worth $325 million, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The contract surpasses the total value of Gerrit Cole’s record $324 million, but is three years longer.

The deal contains no deferrals, per reports.

Yamamoto has until Jan. 4 to finalize his deal under terms of his posting.

The signing is the second significant move by the Dodgers in the off-season. They signed designated hitter and reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani to a blockbuster $700 million deal earlier, meaning they have committed a billion dollars to just two players, albeit over many years. Ohtani reportedly deferred the bulk of his annual salary to allow the Dodgers to make other moves.