Yoshinobu Yamamoto‘s performance in Game 2 of the World Series not only cemented his status as an emerging star in MLB, but also left the New York Yankees lamenting their failure to sign him.
The Japanese pitcher, who signed a record 12-year, $325 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was instrumental in the 5-1 victory that put his team ahead in the series.
The plan that never came to fruition
The Yankees made a strong bid for Yamamoto. Manager Aaron Boone described him as a unique talent, confident that they would sign him. “It’s hard to find a 25-year-old pitcher with his level of success,” Boone said. But the contract offered by Guggenheim Baseball Management was too attractive, and New York’s ambitions were left in words.
Yamamoto shone, Stroman disappointed
While the Yankees settled for Marcus Stroman, Yamamoto had a stellar season: 2.73 ERA in 173.2 innings and a 5-1 record with a 2.47 ERA in 47.1 postseason innings. Stroman, like other members of the 2024 team, ended up without a team after a disappointing campaign.
The fall of a promising year
After the 2023 season, the Yankees dreamed of a new era led by Juan Soto and Yamamoto. But the Japanese went to Los Angeles, and Soto ended up signing with the Mets for the largest contract in the history of the sport. In the 2024 World Series, the Dodgers outlasted the Yankees, and Yamamoto pitched a complete game, while Max Fried, the “plan B,” collapsed on the mound.
The contrast between what was and what could have been
Cody Bellinger, Soto’s replacement, hit just .211/.282/.378 in October, with a 75 wRC+. In contrast, Soto had been key in the previous postseason. While the Yankees talk about financial flexibility and alternative plans, the reality is that they lost two stars who could have changed their destiny.
The Dodgers won more than just a pitcher
The signing of Yamamoto not only strengthened the Dodgers, but also marked the beginning of a year of frustration for the Yankees. The Japanese became a World Series hero, while New York is still looking for answers. If they were asked honestly, they would probably admit that they still dream of what might have been.
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