Yankees Update: Yoshinobu Yamamoto bidding now in critical stages

The Yankees meet with Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the second time, amid interest and offers from other clubs.

Yamamoto’s contract could break Gerrit Cole’s starting pitcher record. The Bombers are still interested in Cody Bellinger and Dylan Cease.

SNY | Andy Martino:

We’ve gotten multiple updates on Yoshinobu’s free agency over the previous 48 hours, and it appears that the race to sign the NPB ace is nearing its conclusion. According to Martino, the Yankees are “cautiously optimistic” about signing the 25-year-old, though they will face heavy competition from at least a half-dozen other teams vying for the top starting pitcher on the free agent market. Given Steve Cohen’s enormous riches, the Mets appear to have forced their way into the conversation, with Yamamoto attending a dinner at the Mets owner’s private estate. In response, the Yankees “hastily arranged” a second meeting with the pitcher to underline their commitment to putting him in pinstripes, an encounter that has now been confirmed as requested by Yamamoto himself.

NJ Advance Media | Max Goodman:

Given how the rotation crumbled behind Gerrit Cole last year, it’s no surprise that the Yankees are pressing hard to sign the Eiji Sawamura Award winner in each of the last three seasons (NPB’s Cy Young Award equivalent). If they are serious about signing a free agency starting pitcher, they must be willing to pay top bucks, possibly even a record contract. That’s because recent reports indicate that both the Giants and Red Sox have made bids in excess of $300 million, and a bidding war could easily boost his eventual contract beyond Gerrit Cole’s nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees.

Yamamoto, at only 25 years old, has 5-6 more years in his prime than the other names at the top of the free agent starting pitching market, which is the key driver driving his price near, if not over, record heights.

MLB.com | Will Leitch:

Despite trading for Juan Soto, Trent Grisham, and Alex Verdugo, the Yankees are still said to be interested in Cody Bellinger. The Bombers are Leitch’s second-most likely landing location for the former MVP, with the Blue Jays topping his list of suitors. Toronto missed out on both Soto and Shohei Ohtani, leaving Bellinger as their best remaining option to improve their offense. Leitch believes the Yankees are still a good fit since Soto and Verdugo are on expiring contracts, and Bellinger would relieve Aaron Judge of having to play center field.

Yahoo! Sports | Ryan Taylor:

Only one team will be able to sign Yamamoto, leaving all other rejected suitors with one less option to bolster their rotations. It’s no surprise that some of the top players with existing contracts, such as Corbin Burnes, Shane Bieber, and Dylan Cease, have had their names circulated in trade speculations. Cease is the name that is getting the most attention right now, with Ken Rosenthal reporting that the Yankees have joined the Orioles, Reds, Giants, Braves, and Rangers in scouting the 27-year-old.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz stated that his team would be “pulling back” on adding Cease in trade talks, however this is most likely a ploy to drive up his price while the organization waits for Yamamoto to sign in order to create interest in the starting pitching market. During conversations between Chicago and Cincinnati brass at the Winter Meetings, it’s claimed that the asking price for the 2022 Cy Young runner-up was four of the Reds’ top-11 prospects.