Yoshinobu Yamamoto update: Yankees on, Dodgers question, Braves wild card
By Beau Adams
Dodgers: A strategic retreat or still in pursuit?
The Los Angeles Dodgers, once considered frontrunners in the race for Yamamoto, have two ways to look at the Yamamoto chase. First, they could seemingly bow out of the chase after recently secured the services of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, signing him to a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million deal. With this signing, the Dodgers have effectively filled their need for a high-profile player, eliminating the necessity for Yamamoto's addition to their roster.
However, there is the flip side of the coin, with several outlets still reporting L.A. to be in the thick of the chase.
The Dodgers' Fiscal Stance: A Calculated Decision
If the Dodgers' withdrawal from the pursuit of Yamamoto is the path, it seems to be a calculated financial move. With Ohtani's signing, they have made a significant investment, and adding Yamamoto's expected hefty contract to the payroll might not make fiscal sense. The Dodgers, after locking in Ohtani, do not benefit significantly from the additional international revenue boosts, making Yamamoto's signing less appealing from a financial standpoint.