MLB Rumors: Yankees Remain 'Optimistic' on Yoshinobu Yamamoto After Meeting With Star | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The New York Yankees reportedly "remain optimistic" about their chances to sign Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, according to Jack Curry of YES.

JackCurryYES @JackCurryYES

A source with knowledge of the Yankees' interaction with Yamamoto said they remain optimistic about their pursuit of the free agent pitcher. It's a crumb of info. So I'm sharing a crumb. Stay tuned. We'll talk Yamamoto, Ohtani and more on the Yankees Hot Stove at 6:30 PM on YES.

The Yankees remain linked to the top free agent pitcher on the market, though a number of teams are joining them in that pursuit:

Yankees Videos @snyyankees

.<a href="">@martinonyc</a> reports on the Yankees' contingent at their meeting with Yoshinobu Yamamoto: <br><br>"As of Sunday, the Yankees planned to send a large group of senior leadership to the meeting: managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone… <a href="">

MLB Network @MLBNetwork

.<a href="">@BillShaikin</a> joins <a href="">#MLBNHotStove</a> to break down Ohtani's reported 10-year deal and the Dodgers' potential to land Yamamoto next. <a href="">

Jon Heyman @JonHeyman

Yes, the Dodgers are still interested in and can still afford Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Uncertain though, how the Ohtani signing may affect their chances, pro or con. The three perceived favorites: 1. Mets 2. Yankees 3. Dodgers

Bryan Hoch ⚾️ @BryanHoch

😮 <br><br>It appears the Dodgers have a lot more to spend than initially thought (Yamamoto?). <a href="">

Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN

Source: The Giants met yesterday with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He's got a lot of big market teams bidding for his services.

The Yankees have already been busy this offseason, trading for outfielders Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo to bolster a major position of need. Up next, however, is improving the rotation behind superstar Gerrit Cole.

The Soto and Verdugo trades cost them a number of pitchers who had a shot to potentially crack the rotation in 2024, including Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez and Richard Fitts.

Carlos Rodón struggled in 2023 but will have a spot in the rotation. Ditto for Nestor Cortés. If those two improve, the team's rotation will look solid, and Clarke Schmidt is a viable fourth or fifth starter. But after that, a giant question mark appears.

"We're in the market for pitching [to] see if we can reinforce it," general manager Brian Cashman told Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News this offseason. "We like the pitching we have, but we also recognize that if we can add to it, it's important to do [so]. The rotation-bullpen combo, all the above, from an insurance standpoint or something established that you can plug and play with, we're going to continue conversations in that arena."

Yamamoto, 25, would potentially make the Yankees rotation downright filthy. He was 16-6 in Japan's Pacific League last season with a 1.21 ERA, 0.88 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 164 innings, winning the league's equivalent of the MVP for a third straight year.

If his game translates to the MLB level—and he signs with the Yankees—the team would suddenly boast a rotation with one of the highest upsides in the sport.

It's a big if, obviously, with a number of contenders circling after Shohei Ohtani landed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, removing the biggest free agent off the board. Yamamoto is likely the next major domino to fall, and if the Yankees sign him, they'll make a strong case for having the best winter of any team.