Yoshinobu Yamamoto agreed to a historic 12-year, $325 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.The deal was finalized after Yamamoto, a highly decorated pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball, was posted and made available to MLB teams in November.
Yamamoto's impressive career in Japan included a 1.82 ERA over seven years, making him one of the most dominant pitchers in NPB history.
The $325 million contract surpasses Gerrit Cole's previous record-breaking deal with the New York Yankees in 2019.
Unlike Shohei Ohtani's contract, Yamamoto's deal reportedly does not include any deferrals.
From 2021 to 2023, Yamamoto achieved notable success, winning a Japan Series title, a World Baseball Classic title, three pitching Triple Crowns, three Sawamura Awards, and three Pacific League MVPs, solidifying his legacy in Japanese baseball.