Yoshinobu Yamamoto is understandably one of the most popular free-agent pitchers ever as a two-time Japan League MVP who’s only 25.
The Mets have been linked to Yamamoto following their success with Kodai Senga, but true or not, some believe Yamamoto may prefer the West Coast (as Shohei Ohtani did six years ago). If so, the Dodgers, Giants and Padres may have the edge.
File this under rumor — for now.
How popular is Yamamoto? Every big-market team is interested, plus the Diamondbacks and Tigers.
The Phillies are trying first to retain Aaron Nola but they’ll have their limit, and NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell plus Eduardo Rodriguez, Sonny Gray and others may be in play, too.
Nola is extremely popular, and some could see the rival Braves signing the Baton Rouge, La., product.
Multiple West Coast teams could fit Seattle product Snell (Dodgers, Giants and incumbent Padres), but the Phillies make sense, too.
Juan Soto may be traded, but there are hurdles. An acquiring team would want to lock him up before surrendering a haul, and it’s hard to see a $500M contract get done in the three-day window.
Brewers stars Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Willy Adames are free agents after 2024. Owner Mark Attanasio in the No. 30 market has amazingly resisted rebuilding to date. Burnes will get calls, however.
The White Sox are getting hits on star Dylan Cease, who has two years before free agency (and thus even greater value). The 101-loss White Sox should listen.
Eight teams seek multiple starters: Mets, Cards, Cubs, Pirates, Dodgers, Angels, Giants, Red Sox.
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