Yamamoto’s chances of signing with the Phillies have improved

The Philadelphia Phillies are said to have six suitors for free-agent Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Let’s make it five. On Thursday, NBC Sports Bay Area reported that the San Francisco Giants had been informed that they were no longer in the running for the 25-year-old right-hander.

The Phillies, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays are the six clubs contending for the three-time Pacific League MVP. According to reports, the Phillies made their offer on Wednesday. The offer’s value was not disclosed.

Yamamoto, along with Ichiro Suzuki and Hisashi Yamada, is only the third player in Nippon Professional Baseball history to win the MVP award three years in a row. He’s also won three Sawamura Awards in a row, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young. Yamamoto has been the subject of bidding wars since his NPB team, the Orix Buffaloes, placed him on free agency.

While he has until January 4 to reach an agreement, many feel he might have one before Christmas. Yamamoto, according to Jim Bowden, a former general manager of three Major League teams who now works for The Athletic, will receive a contract for $250-$300 million over the course of eight to twelve years. This does not include the posting fee owed to Orix if the transaction goes through.

Most observers, including Bowden, feel the Yankees and Dodgers are the favorites to sign Yamamoto. Last week, the Phillies met with him and included first baseman Bryce Harper in their recruiting presentation. Yamamoto finished 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA and struck out 169 batters in 164 innings in 2023. He pitched his second career no-hitter in the Japan Series, striking out 14 batters in Game 6, setting a series record.

If the Phillies are unable to sign Yamamoto, they already have a “consolation” prize in the form of Aaron Nola, who was signed to a seven-year, $172 million contract last month.