The New York Yankees are one of several teams that are expected to make a run at Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. In fact, Yamamoto shares an agent with current Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton.
However recent comments by General Manager Brian Cashman concerning Stanton may make Yamamoto think twice about signing in the Bronx.
Fortunately for Yamamoto, there are several other teams to choose from. The Yankees ultimately may have shot themselves in the foot with these comments.
With that in mind, here are three teams that could end up outbidding the Yankees for Yamamoto's services after Cashman's questionable comments on Stanton.
3. Boston Red Sox
In this scenario, nothing would hurt worse for the Yankees than to watch Yamamoto sign with their hated rivals after Cashman's comments.
Yes, Cashman's comments were about Stanton, but since he and Yamamoto share an agent, it could lead to Yamamoto turning his back on the Bronx Bombers.
Boston has had serious pitching issues over the past several years and have lacked a true ace starter. Yamamoto could be the guy that they choose this offseason to give themselves an ace in the hole.
The Red Sox finished in last place in the AL East for the second consecutive year with a record of 78-84. It was the pitching that ultimately failed them.
But adding Yamamoto could be the first step the Red Sox take in their retool as they try to return to postseason contention in 2024.
Yamamoto alone will not get them back into contention. They'll need other pieces as well. But it would certainly be a good place to start. Yamamoto has been posted and his market should be very active over the next couple of weeks as free agency starts to heat up.
Expect Boston to be in the mix for the right-hander.
2. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are another team that was failed by their pitching in 2023. Fortunately, they are expected to be in the running for Yamamoto.
St. Louis has shied away from spending big on pitchers for several years. But they have no choice but to do so in order to contend in 2024 following a 91-loss season.
One thing that could give St. Louis an advantage is Yamamoto's close relationship with star outfielder Lars Nootbaar. He and Nolan Arenado traveled to Japan last month to see Yamamoto's playoff start with the Orix Buffaloes.
Like Boston, St. Louis lacks a true ace to head up its rotation, and that is something they should be looking to add after their first losing season since 2007. Yamamoto would be just that if the Cardinals can pull off a signing such as this.
The Cardinals are also targeting a wide array of other starters and exploring several possible avenues to adding pitching to their roster. Pitchers such as Sonny Gray, Aaron Nola, Blake Snell, Dylan Cease, and others could be had in trades and in free agency.
It ultimately depends on which path the Cardinals choose to take this winter.
1. New York Mets
Another way Cashman's comments can hurt the Yankees is if Yamamoto ultimately signs with the Mets, their crosstown rivals.
In fact, the Mets are said to be in on Yamamoto. According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, New York has checked in on two-way star and former American League MVP Shohei Ohtani, but they ultimately believe that they have no shot to land him.
Yamamoto is expected to be the Mets' backup plan in the event that they don't land Ohtani, who might prefer staying on the West Coast.
New York traded away Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer at the deadline in August, leaving their rotation vulnerable. But Yamamoto could slot in next to Kodai Senga and Jose Quintana, which would give the Mets a chance to potentially bounce back into contention sooner than they expected to.
As Scherzer put it when he was traded to Texas, the Mets had planned on stepping back from contention and bouncing back again by 2026. Their fans will certainly hope that the window opens up again this offseason.
Adding Yamamoto could get the Mets closer to achieving that. And it would certainly hurt for the Yankees to lose out on the right-hander, only for him to land with the Mets.