Yoshinobu Yamamoto Enters Free Agency: Negotiations Open Until January 4th

New York City – The highly acclaimed Japanese professional baseball pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to become a free agent on Tuesday. Major League Baseball teams can sign the talented pitcher through 5 p.m. EST on Jan. 4.

Nippon Professional Baseball has officially notified Major League Baseball that the 25-year-old right-hander’s club, the Orix Buffaloes, has decided to post him for availability to MLB teams. MLB, in turn, has informed all 30 teams about the posting on Monday. As per the agreement between MLB and NPB, the negotiating period will commence at 8 a.m. on Tuesday and extend for up to 45 days.

Yamamoto had an outstanding season, amassing a 16-6 record with an exceptional 1.21 ERA, striking out 169 and walking 28 in 164 innings. Over his seven seasons with Orix, he has a remarkable 70-29 record with a 1.82 ERA. Notably, he broke records by striking out a Japan Series record 14 batters in a game on Nov. 5. He also pitched his second career no-hitter on September 9, a game that was closely watched by MLB executives, extending his scoreless streak to 42 innings.

Known for his remarkable pitching abilities and a two-time Pacific League MVP, Yamamoto’s fastball averaged 95 mph in Japan’s World Baseball Classic semifinal win over Mexico in March. He followed the commendable 21-year-old sensation Rōki Sasaki in the tournament, giving a strong performance that left an impression on MLB executives.

Considering the MLB-NPB agreement, the posting fee is set at 20% of the first $25 million of a major league contract, with lower percentages for subsequent amounts. This demonstrates the significance of the potential negotiations and the competition to secure Yamamoto’s talent as he becomes available to Major League Baseball teams.