The Yankees may have an opportunity as a result of Ohtani’s choice; Minor league pitching development is still beneficial; who worried the Padres, and does Sasaki want to be postedhttps://www.bbcsport247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/70810998007-usatsi-21380074.webp?
| Max Goodman | NJ.com: You have most likely heard by now about Shohei Ohtani’s historic $700 million, ten-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Though a sizable portion of the Dodger budget is now reserved for the two-way star, the Yankees may have a chance to recruit another Japanese player now that they have committed to another team.
Five teams are said to have courted Yoshinobu Yamamoto; one of them may withdraw from the bidding after inking Ohtani (but Jon Heyman is less convinced). The Mets appear to be the Yankees’ greatest rival for the NPB ace, but it’s always advantageous to have one less potential opponent.
New York Post | Sanchez, Mark W.: Although the Yankees haven’t been the best at producing in-house hitters in recent seasons, their pitching staff is among the finest in the league. The franchise has demonstrated time and time again that it can draw from its high-ceiling arm reserves to bolster other sections of the squad, and the seemingly limitless capacity to add minor league talent should give us all hope that this pattern can hold. For the time being, no other team could provide so much skill on the mound in one fell swoop, therefore the depth of minor league pitching was necessary to get Juan Soto.
SNY | Phillip Martinez: Speaking of that young player on the field, the Padres’ well-known hold-up in formally accepting the deal was caused by caution. After the medical reports were submitted, one pitcher in particular raised an eyebrow, but not enough to ruin the agreement.
MLB Rumors: Mark Polishuk’s Analysis Naturally, Ohtani and Yamamoto are the center of attention, but the next rising NPB pitcher is attempting to make a move to the United States. With a 1.92 ERA and 308 strikeouts in 220.1 innings between 2022 and 2023, right-hander Rōki Sasaki has dazzled. The recently 22-year-old hopes to follow in Ohtani’s footsteps and join Major League Baseball early. Even though he became one of the market’s most sought-after pitchers right away, the Chiba Lotte Marines
