A contract of that amount is always risky, especially given that Ohtani recently had Tommy John surgery and will be unable to throw in 2024. There’s no guarantee he’ll be able to recreate his prior success, but given his work ethic and domination, he’ll be a dominant player for a long time.
Fortunately, the Yankees are looking for younger and more durable players, which is why Soto was such a good fit. Yamamoto will have suitors, most notably the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Mets, but the Yankees are ready to spend, and the Japanese international star is also 25 and has hurled at least 170 innings for three years in a row.
Things should heat up on the Yamamoto front in the coming days as he continues to meet with his squad in the United States.
