Even before the curtain falls on the Yankees‘ 2023 season, the free-agent rumor mill is already sizzling. General Manager Brian Cashman recently took a trans-Pacific flight to witness Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitch for the Orix Buffaloes.
This 25-year-old pitching phenom is set to be posted this winter and is expected to draw significant interest from MLB teams. Cashman seems particularly captivated, eyeing Yamamoto as the new gem to add to an already talented rotation featuring Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon.
Yamamoto’s Durability: A Sought-After Quality
Yamamoto has demonstrated remarkable stamina, pitching over 190 innings in each of the last two seasons and reaching 150 innings this year.