Bidding for Yoshinobu Yamamoto intensified on Thursday, when the Mets pushed their bid from the high $200 million range to $325 million over 12 years, according to league sources. Shortly after, the Yankees offered Yamamoto $300 million over 10 years, per those sources.
Yamamoto’s camp was seeking opt-outs after years five and eight, making a highly questionable baseball commitment more palatable for the Mets -- essentially a five-year contract, if Yamamoto was healthy and effective.
As the result proved -- Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers for 12 years, $325 million -- the Mets were never well-positioned to sign him.