Yankees have Yoshinobu Yamamoto decision to make as bidding war heats up
It’s no secret that the Yankees are aggressively pursuing Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
A Yankees contingent met with the Japanese ace in Southern California this past week, attempting to woo the right-hander. Even as the sought-after starter continued to speak with other teams throughout this week, the Yankees’ confidence that they’ll be the franchise that Yamamoto picks has been seemingly indestructible.
Reinforcing the starting staff is this club’s No. 1 priority after the Yankees were able to acquire three left-handed outfielders, including superstar Juan Soto. A one-two punch of Gerrit Cole and Yamamoto would be one of the game’s best, a formidable package atop a rotation weighed down by question marks.
What we don’t know for sure is just how much owner Hal Steinbrenner is willing to spend in this chase for the talented 25-year-old. That’s a decision the Yankees need to make with urgency as the price tag attached to this front-line starter continues to rise … and the deadline for Yamamoto to pick a team inches closer.
