For weeks we have heard that Japanese pitcher Yoshinubo Yamamoto was going to pick between the two New York teams for his first MLB destination.
Instead in the wee-hours of Friday morning word came down that Yamamoto had spurned both the Mets and Yankees, signing a $325 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The move pairs Yamamoto with fellow countryman Shohei Ohtani, who just inked a $700 million deal with LA last week.
According to Andy Martino of SNY, the Mets also offered a $325 million deal for Yamamoto. The Yankees offered $300 million.
Give a lot of credit to the Mets and Steve Cohen, they went all in to get Yamamoto, even though many believed they were third in the race for Yamamoto, as the Dodgers and Yankees were the perceived favorites.
Meanwhile the Yankees, reportedly felt they made a good offer for Yamamoto at $300 and were unwilling to go higher.
Both the Yankees and Mets have a lot of work to do. It feels however with the way this off-season has gone that the Yankees are going for it a lot harder than the Mets are. The Yankees already added Juan Soto, and have a dire need for starting pitching.
Former San Diego Padre ace Blake Snell is still available, as is one-time Yankee Jordan Montgomery. Either one would help bolster a staff that needs help behind staff ace Gerrit Cole.
As for the Mets, they have been making small moves all offseason. Their biggest move was trading for back-end starting pitcher Adrian Houser and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the Brewers earlier this week. They have not made a big splashy move this offseason, which is very unlike the Mets under Steve Cohen.
Perhaps the Mets were betting on Yamamoto or bust?
It will be interesting to see if the Mets join the Snell/Montgomery sweepstakes, or if they pivot toward what feels like a rebuilding year.
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