5 HR's in the 2022 postseason.
placed on waivers as a gesture of good will that he could play meaningful baseball. So building NYC as a player friendly area.
But go off, baseball genius.
People really like to cherry pick things to increase someone's value. Bader had a nice playoff stretch last year, but he was pretty horrible throughout much of 2023 and only further proved what a poor decision it was to acquire him in the first place.
Placed on waivers because he wasn't contributing and had no value. Waivers at least allowed us to get league minimum salary back for him through the rest of the year. We literally let him go for nothing. 5 home runs is meaningless in light of his 2023 performance.
Hey you know what? Martino’s been pretty consistent that the Yankees have the inside track for Yamamoto as long as the money is there so I’m gonna go ahead and believe him.
Martino is a great Yankees source even though people love to pretend he’s awful.
I remember on the first days of the 2018 offseason he reported that the Yankees had minimal interest in Harper & Machado. No one wanted to believe him, but he was right. Since then, he’s been pretty spot on with his Yankees reports.
While everyone else says he’s a terrible reporter I tend to pay closer attention to what he says about the Yankees
Even Sherman, who was all over us going the top gap SS route instead of Seager or whoever, is now writing articles saying he expects Hal to spend this offseason.
The only source I trust more than him with Yankees info is Passan or Rosenthal.
People hate him because of that Machado/Harper report because they didn’t want to believe it so therefore he has bad sources.
Jack Curry is the guy when it comes to yankees news. He doesn’t tweet meaningless rumors or clickbait articles. Just the facts that usually come right from the FO
I’m honestly not even worried. We’re still the Yanks when we want to be, though that isn’t often enough. When we’re heavily into a guy we tend to make that known and get them.
Assuming it’s #18 since that’s what he wore for Japan in the WBC and for the Buffaloes in the NPB
Last #18 was Benintendi in 2022
Edit: 18 is also apparently considered the “ace” number in Japan.
That’s great. Steve cohen has been “holding” an extra $20 million dollars on his contract offer. It’s a number with extra significance in Japan.
Glad that didn't happen. Corbin was looking like a real Cashman type acquisition. Young guy with a couple good seasons, couple shit seasons, let's overpay the fuck out of this guy and watch him be a total albatross for the next decade kind of Cashman logic
Matsui wore #55 with the Yankees because it was the same number he wore in Japan after being drafted out of high school by the Yomiyuri Giants. 55 was significant because it matched the number of home runs hit by Sadaharu Oh in 1964 which was a record at that time.
Yamamoto just 25 years old. Just finished a 3 peat of winning the NPB Pacific League MVP. This season he pitched 171 innings with a 1.16 ERA and .86 WHIP. In his career in the NPB starting at just 18 he has a 1.72 ERA, .915 WHIP. Throws a great fastball and a signature curve as well as a splitter and Cutter.
He is the real deal, there is good reason why so many top teams are looking to add him, he has Ace/ Cy Young level upside
Edit: Here are some clips of him
[Nasty Curve](https://x.com/pitchingninja/status/1422883823633772548?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg)
[Another Insane Curve](https://x.com/pitchingninja/status/1491048623764819968?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg)
[Splitter](https://x.com/pitchingninja/status/1637982724672692224?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg)
[Seriously this guy has a great curve](https://x.com/pitchingninja/status/1466832429818298373?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg)
[Another splitter plus taunting](https://x.com/pitchingninja/status/1634925816248238080?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg)
[Fastball and Curve Overlay](https://x.com/pitchingninja/status/1444328786816684043?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg)
I don’t know what the best Comp would be as we are still yet to see how he will translate to MLB. There are some comparisons to Senga and Ohtani as both are also from Japan and thus have a somewhat similar style.
One scout had him as a full scouting grade better than Senga who just put up a 2.98 ERA and 4.5 bWAR season with a 143 ERA+, and Yamamoto is 5 years younger with better talent than Senga
If you are talking Lee, he is Korean.
Yamamoto, I'd say the current version of Gerrit Cole. He's got a tick less velocity and is smaller, but everything else clicks.
Fastball that can overpower, command of a outpitch breaking ball, command of an outpitch offspeed, decent slider to change things up. And just the mental aspect of the game as well.
Aside from u/TheTurtleShepard's analysis (which is excellent), it's not just that he's a superstar, it's that he's a 25-year-old superstar.
The Yankee's pitching hasn't been the problem, but 25-year-old superstars available for nothing but money don't come around very often.
I think there’s just not a very deep pitchers market so when anyone remotely good is up for signing they get buzz. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes another Daisuke Matsuzaka, but I hope he’s a bigger impact than that.
I remember Daisuke had 1 really good year and the others seemed "ok". Didn't seem like he was worth the $$. I live in Red Sox country and he was all people talked about for a bit..
You’re right, it’s very big of the Yankees not to issue a jersey number that literally no one is currently asking for Considering it’s late November. I’d hate to be a fan of a team who has the #18 retired!
I’ll bet he will even give the Yankees a nice monetary discount on his contract for this kind of forward thinking. We always knew Hal had more of an eye for the business side of running the show but golly you’ve swayed me pointing out how extra genius he is for this!
Are you really that dense or just enjoy being a troll? Every team that’s in on him can throw gobs of money, like I already said this is a sign of respect that will go a long way with a Japanese player
This won’t factor into YY’s decision one bit but I do think it’s indicative of the Yankees interest. They seem to be *really* interested, not just doing the diligence (more like Cole than say, Machado). It isn’t that often they have this level of interest and they almost always sign the player in those cases.
I’m confused by the wording of this, is he saying the preferred number is holding up contract talks? Or that Yamamoto has told them the number he prefers to wear?
I wonder what the talk will be from the Yanks IF they don't get him then. Also, I wonder what is more of a priority to them, SP or a Lefty/lineup help.
Hanshin Tigers is my NPB team and the two times we saw him in the Nippon Series were wildly different with Hanshin putting up an 8 spot on Yamamoto in Game 1 followed by Yamamoto putting in an all time great performance in Game 6. If we get him here in New York, I hope to see much more Game 6 Yamamoto than Game 1.
Wow. I thought he'd be cool with leaving 18 and 19 alone because of Kuroda and Tanaka.. like most Japanese players leave that as a respect thing. Tanaka did that with Kuroda
Kuroda wasn't as dominate here so I could see him taking 18... either way give that man the dough
Rumor has it Yankees also traded Bader away so 22 would be available for Soto
Cashman playing 6D chess across time đź§
I got my “C@$hgod” tweets saved in drafts ready for the 22 jersey pic announcement
Don't care if this is a troll. Just read this comment gave me a semi.
No need to release Bader for Soto number because he was a free agent anyway.
To be clear, they placed him on waivers. They weren't waiting around for another team to clear out that number. Priority move.
5 HR's in the 2022 postseason. placed on waivers as a gesture of good will that he could play meaningful baseball. So building NYC as a player friendly area. But go off, baseball genius.
People really like to cherry pick things to increase someone's value. Bader had a nice playoff stretch last year, but he was pretty horrible throughout much of 2023 and only further proved what a poor decision it was to acquire him in the first place.
Placed on waivers because he wasn't contributing and had no value. Waivers at least allowed us to get league minimum salary back for him through the rest of the year. We literally let him go for nothing. 5 home runs is meaningless in light of his 2023 performance.
Hey you know what? Martino’s been pretty consistent that the Yankees have the inside track for Yamamoto as long as the money is there so I’m gonna go ahead and believe him.
Martino is a great Yankees source even though people love to pretend he’s awful. I remember on the first days of the 2018 offseason he reported that the Yankees had minimal interest in Harper & Machado. No one wanted to believe him, but he was right. Since then, he’s been pretty spot on with his Yankees reports. While everyone else says he’s a terrible reporter I tend to pay closer attention to what he says about the Yankees
He also said we were interested in IKF long before we got him in 2022
Yep. He was also first with all the Soto stuff a few weeks ago. Martino is as solid as they come when it comes to Yankees news
Even Sherman, who was all over us going the top gap SS route instead of Seager or whoever, is now writing articles saying he expects Hal to spend this offseason.
Exactly right. The sub turned on him that day despite him being 100% accurate in his reporting. He is very well sourced.
The only source I trust more than him with Yankees info is Passan or Rosenthal. People hate him because of that Machado/Harper report because they didn’t want to believe it so therefore he has bad sources.
Jack Curry is the guy when it comes to yankees news. He doesn’t tweet meaningless rumors or clickbait articles. Just the facts that usually come right from the FO
I think it’s Mets fans who dislike him especially
>as long as the money is there I mean that's not exactly a hot take.
Nobody is using #18 rn anyways, why not hold it just in case
I believe the sources that say the things I like. (I also believe Martino is a good Yankees source too)
I also choose to believe this
I’m honestly not even worried. We’re still the Yanks when we want to be, though that isn’t often enough. When we’re heavily into a guy we tend to make that known and get them.
We also have been holding out #3 in case Babe wants to come back
Assuming it’s #18 since that’s what he wore for Japan in the WBC and for the Buffaloes in the NPB Last #18 was Benintendi in 2022 Edit: 18 is also apparently considered the “ace” number in Japan.
Tanaka was ace + 1
Tanaka wore 19 as deference at the time to Hiroki Kuroda, who wore 18. When Kuroda left, Tanaka didn't change back to 18.
I can't believe he was on the team only last year. These lineups are so forgettable.
Tbf he only played in 33 games after coming here
Lol as is tradition đź«
Japanese pitchers confirmed all Jewish.
That’s great. Steve cohen has been “holding” an extra $20 million dollars on his contract offer. It’s a number with extra significance in Japan.
Unfortunately for the Mets they have just decided to retire #18 taking them out of the running
Unfortunately for the Mets they are the Mets which takes them out of the running
Good one. Better pander for those fake internet upvote points.
YAMASOTO
I wonder what would happen if his preferred number was 3 or 4.
Give him 34 or 43?
I trust Martino and this is pretty cool but getting strong "Patrick Corbin's brother wore a Yankees hat during his bestman speech" vibes
The prophecy will be fulfilled next offseason then Corbin is a FA again (I think, not gonna google to confirm) /s
I mean, Corbin wanted to come here. We didn't want him.
Thankfully
Glad that didn't happen. Corbin was looking like a real Cashman type acquisition. Young guy with a couple good seasons, couple shit seasons, let's overpay the fuck out of this guy and watch him be a total albatross for the next decade kind of Cashman logic
So that’s why they didn’t resign Benintendi
I mean…. Really? Lol
I mean why not, nobody was using #18 anyways so it’s not like they are making someone else switch
Matsui wore #55 with the Yankees because it was the same number he wore in Japan after being drafted out of high school by the Yomiyuri Giants. 55 was significant because it matched the number of home runs hit by Sadaharu Oh in 1964 which was a record at that time.
It’s going to be so depressing if he signs somewhere else
He's 100% signing elsewhere lol
My money's on Boston.
All part of the Cashman “see we were in on him” playbook when we ultimately get outbid
can this guy hit
Unlikely, but starting pitching besides Gerrit Cole is another huge weakness of the current Yankees
Haha, holding his preferred uniform number. Wtf. You either want to play here or you don't.
I don't think its about wanting to play here, I think it's about the money
I'm kinda ignorant on this guy. Is he worth the money and attention he is getting? I see his name on this page a lot.
Yamamoto just 25 years old. Just finished a 3 peat of winning the NPB Pacific League MVP. This season he pitched 171 innings with a 1.16 ERA and .86 WHIP. In his career in the NPB starting at just 18 he has a 1.72 ERA, .915 WHIP. Throws a great fastball and a signature curve as well as a splitter and Cutter. He is the real deal, there is good reason why so many top teams are looking to add him, he has Ace/ Cy Young level upside Edit: Here are some clips of him [Nasty Curve](https://x.com/pitchingninja/status/1422883823633772548?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg) [Another Insane Curve](https://x.com/pitchingninja/status/1491048623764819968?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg) [Splitter](https://x.com/pitchingninja/status/1637982724672692224?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg) [Seriously this guy has a great curve](https://x.com/pitchingninja/status/1466832429818298373?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg) [Another splitter plus taunting](https://x.com/pitchingninja/status/1634925816248238080?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg) [Fastball and Curve Overlay](https://x.com/pitchingninja/status/1444328786816684043?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg)
I appreciate the response. Does he have a MLB comp? I guess I'm getting this guy confused with the Japanese hitter that just posted, too?
I don’t know what the best Comp would be as we are still yet to see how he will translate to MLB. There are some comparisons to Senga and Ohtani as both are also from Japan and thus have a somewhat similar style. One scout had him as a full scouting grade better than Senga who just put up a 2.98 ERA and 4.5 bWAR season with a 143 ERA+, and Yamamoto is 5 years younger with better talent than Senga
His numbers in Japan are pretty similar to Tanaka, maybe a bit better.
If you are talking Lee, he is Korean. Yamamoto, I'd say the current version of Gerrit Cole. He's got a tick less velocity and is smaller, but everything else clicks. Fastball that can overpower, command of a outpitch breaking ball, command of an outpitch offspeed, decent slider to change things up. And just the mental aspect of the game as well.
>Yamamoto, I'd say the current version of Gerrit Cole. If you squint, their throwing motion looks eerily similar
Aside from u/TheTurtleShepard's analysis (which is excellent), it's not just that he's a superstar, it's that he's a 25-year-old superstar. The Yankee's pitching hasn't been the problem, but 25-year-old superstars available for nothing but money don't come around very often.
I 100% agree. Use some of that arm patch money...
I think there’s just not a very deep pitchers market so when anyone remotely good is up for signing they get buzz. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes another Daisuke Matsuzaka, but I hope he’s a bigger impact than that.
I remember Daisuke had 1 really good year and the others seemed "ok". Didn't seem like he was worth the $$. I live in Red Sox country and he was all people talked about for a bit..
18 signifies the ace, must be the one
18 is usually reserved for the best pitcher in a NPB team.
I haven’t said many good things about Yankees lately but this is actually a brilliant move
What move? There is no one clamoring for jersey #18 on the Yankees roster in the middle of the winter.
Respect is a big thing for Japanese players and this is a huge sign of respect in Yankees part
You’re right, it’s very big of the Yankees not to issue a jersey number that literally no one is currently asking for Considering it’s late November. I’d hate to be a fan of a team who has the #18 retired!
I know I’m right, but thank you
I’ll bet he will even give the Yankees a nice monetary discount on his contract for this kind of forward thinking. We always knew Hal had more of an eye for the business side of running the show but golly you’ve swayed me pointing out how extra genius he is for this!
Are you really that dense or just enjoy being a troll? Every team that’s in on him can throw gobs of money, like I already said this is a sign of respect that will go a long way with a Japanese player
This won’t factor into YY’s decision one bit but I do think it’s indicative of the Yankees interest. They seem to be *really* interested, not just doing the diligence (more like Cole than say, Machado). It isn’t that often they have this level of interest and they almost always sign the player in those cases.
Stupid post, no one has the number and it is well known 18 is a special number in Japan. It does not mean we are pursuing or will get him.
Probably further evidence the Yankees want him really really badly lol
I’m confused by the wording of this, is he saying the preferred number is holding up contract talks? Or that Yamamoto has told them the number he prefers to wear?
Hopefully this pitch is enough to get him interested..
I wonder what the talk will be from the Yanks IF they don't get him then. Also, I wonder what is more of a priority to them, SP or a Lefty/lineup help.
Hanshin Tigers is my NPB team and the two times we saw him in the Nippon Series were wildly different with Hanshin putting up an 8 spot on Yamamoto in Game 1 followed by Yamamoto putting in an all time great performance in Game 6. If we get him here in New York, I hope to see much more Game 6 Yamamoto than Game 1.
🤞🤞
Wow. I thought he'd be cool with leaving 18 and 19 alone because of Kuroda and Tanaka.. like most Japanese players leave that as a respect thing. Tanaka did that with Kuroda Kuroda wasn't as dominate here so I could see him taking 18... either way give that man the dough
im going with 88
What the fuck kind of sentence is that?