'How do you give a guy $325 million without ever throwing a pitch in MLB?'
Yoshinobu Yamamoto agreed to the largest deal ever given to a pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball last week — yet he has yet to even throw an MLB pitch.
The 25-year-old right-hander and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to 12-year, $325 million deal. The Dodgers continued their wild spending spree while giving a deal that surpassed Gerrit Cole for the most money ever given to a pitcher by just $1 million.
Of course, most baseball fans in the United States had no idea who Yamamoto was when the free agency period even started.
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Josh Reddick #22 of the Houston Astros in action against the Detroit Tigers during a spring training baseball game at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on March 9, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Astros defeated the Tigers 2-1. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
During the season, rumors swirled whether Yamamoto would even get $200 million in free agency. That alone would have been a record itself for the largest deal ever given to a Japanese player, and the largest ever to a player who had not yet played Major League Baseball.
So, former MLB outfielder Josh Reddick seemed confused as to how Yamamoto could sign such a contract.
"How do you give a guy $325 million without ever throwing a pitch in MLB," he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
When one user replied that "baseball is ruined," Reddick answered back, "I agree."
Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of Team Japan pitches during the 2023 World Baseball Classic Semifinal game against Team Mexico at loanDepot Park on Monday, March 20, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)
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Well, users of the platform were quick to respond to Reddick, who was a member of the 2017 Houston Astros, who notoriously bashed trash cans as part of an elaborate sign-stealing scheme en route to a World Series championship.
Many people were quick to say remind Reddick of the cheating, despite him saying baseball was ruined because of such immense contracts.
How do you go from hitting
— James_Brock (@JamesBrock1350) December 23, 2023
.258 in 2016
To
.314 2017
To
.242 2018
That's a better question Cheater.
How do you cheat and then still say you’re a “world champion”?
— Houston Troll Squad (@HoustonTrollers) December 22, 2023
Those who didn't call out the trash cans also reminded Reddick that baseball in Japan includes some of the best talent in the entire world — and Yamamoto dominated it.
Yamamoto has been named the MVP of the Pacific League in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan for three straight years. In seven seasons in Japan, Yamamoto has pitched to a 1.72 ERA. With the Orix Buffaloes this year, his ERA was 1.21. In Game 6 of the Japan Series, he threw 138 pitches and struck out 14 batters in a 5-1 victory. His highest ERA in a single season in Japan was the 2.35 he posted in 2017.
Shohei Ohtani #16 and Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of Team Japan celebrate after winning the 2023 World Baseball Classic Championship game over Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
And, to go against Reddick once more, it's not like the Dodgers care too much about money after signing Shohei Ohtani to a $700 million, while $680 million of it is deferred.
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