Yoshinobu Yamamoto's teammate preference: Real or not?

The MLB rumors conversation has been bubbling about Yoshinobu Yamamoto's free agency now that he's been officially posted by the Orix Buffaloes. Yamamoto has 45 days from the day he was posted (Monday) to reach a free agency agreement with an MLB team.

For Japanese players, one consideration when coming over to MLB is their preference for or against (or indifferent) toward playing with other Japanese teammates. Some reporters have indicated that some Japanese players prefer to play on teams without Japanese teammates because of the extremely hierarchical culture in Japan.

It had already been reported that Yamamoto doesn't mind being teammates with other Japanese players on whatever MLB team he signs with, but this week it was floated that a Japanese Yahoo! article indicated he prefers to be on a team with another Japanese player. Others are calling that assessment out, suggesting that the article says he simply doesn't mind playing with another Japanese player.

Notably, the article was in Japanese, so there could be nuance of the information lost in translation.

All of that said, at this point, it likely doesn't do Yamamoto well to close himself off to any opportunities in hopes of getting himself as lucrative of a contract as possible.

If he does want a large market and a Japanese teammate, though, we looked at a few possible fits here.

Padres asking price for Juan Soto more than tenable, if to believed

One of the most attractive trade targets thought to be available this winter is San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto. Plenty of MLB teams could use outfield help that isn't ice cold at the plate, and Soto's prolificacy as a batter would be incredibly attractive for any team.

Of course, as with any trade, it all comes down to price and how much the Padres are hoping to get.

Apparently, he may come cheaper than one might think, with the current rumor from Jon Heyman of the New York Post suggesting two top-100 prospects could get a deal done.

Why so inexpensive? A big part of the calculus is that Soto is a free agent after 2023. Teams that trade for Soto might be interested in extending his contract beyond his existing obligations, but it's no guarantee. They're only sure to have him on the roster for the remainder of the 2024 season, so he's effectively a rental.

Put that way, two top-100 prospects might even be a little steep for Soto, depending on how much production he gets a given team.

Cody Bellinger's free agency a mystifying proposition for some teams

Top free agent Cody Bellinger made great use of his one-year prove-it deal with the Chicago Cubs. Bellinger, who won NL MVP years ago with the Los Angeles Dodgers, restored his reputation in such a way that it's likely to get him his last major contract at the pro level.

After looking like he was on his way out of the MLB with a 44 OPS+ in 2021 and 81 in 2022, 2023 with the Cubs saw him put forth a 133, including 97 RBI. Bellinger is back. Or so we think?

Worth keeping in mind is that he's not that far removed from those sluggishly bad seasons at the plate. That fact might give some pause to teams who are excited about what he did in 2023, but skeptical of how close he can get to maintaining that production for years to come.

Mark Sanchez of the New York Post wrote about that "mystery" and how it could shrink Bellinger's market than is immediately apparent. Some teams that are interested in him, like the Yankees, have made poor roster-building decisions in recent years that might give some pause over concerns they could be repeating past mistakes. Josh Donaldson, an MVP in his own right, proved to be a non-factor in his time with the Yankees. Joey Gallo looked equally as bad in New York.

The Yankees have to get things right, as do the Giants.

So, when you're talking about potentially $20 million-plus per year, there's not much room for error.

In the end, it only takes one team to pay up to make a contract. Bellinger will still get paid.

Shohei Ohtani to the Dodgers?

David Wassegh of Dodgers Talk seems convinced Ohtani to the Dodgers is a very real possibility, going so far as to indicate it's a near certainty.

"I don't know when, I don't know for how much, but all signs are pointing to Ohtani and the Dodgers finding common ground."

Wassegh went to suggest that Ohtani would sign right around the winter meetings.

For now, color me skeptical, filing this away in the "radio hosts that need to fill air time without much tangible news," category. But it is a notably more authoritative prediction than you might normally hear. Wassegh is a sideline reporter with SportsNet LA and reasonably plugged in with the team and ostensibly, players and the front office. Maybe there's real action here.

A Dodgers signing would be obviously easy for Ohtani, who has already lived in the area in-season his last several years.

With winter meetings having yet to kick off, it's difficult to understand how the Dodgers would have made such an early agreement with Ohtani, though the fact that he was already in Los Angeles could have given the Dodgers a minor leg up?

At this point, it's far too early to say for sure, with essentially no rumors having leaked out on Ohtani's thinking about what he wants to do with his free agency.

It's long been speculated that Ohtani's mild-mannered temperament may leave him feeling betrayed if anything leaks out.