� The Los Angeles Dodgers broke the market on Thursday night by agreeing to terms with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto on a 12-year, $325 million contract. Whether you think the �broke the market� phrase has a positive or a negative...
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The Los Angeles Dodgers broke the market on Thursday night by agreeing to terms with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto on a 12-year, $325 million contract.
Whether you think the �broke the market� phrase has a positive or a negative connotation depends on how you view the situation.
Some people think the Dodgers shouldn�t be allowed to spend more than one billion dollars on players; but others defend them and say that spending is within the game�s competitive spirit.
Both sides have a valid argument.
Former major leaguer and World Series champion Josh Reddick certainly thinks things have gone too far when it comes to contracts.
He can�t wrap his mind around the fact LA just spent north of $325 million on a player who hasn�t seen the majors.
�How do you give a guy $325 million without ever throwing a pitch in MLB,� he tweeted.
How do you give a guy $325 million without ever throwing a pitch in MLB
� Josh Reddick (@JRedDubDeuce) December 22, 2023
He has point, to an extent: it�s shocking to see an MLB organization hand out that much money for a player that is, at least in some percentage, a gamble.
However, scouts aren�t wrong when they see Yamamoto as a special talent.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to supply and demand.
Yamamoto�s overall package of age, experience, current stuff, and makeup was unique in this market, so the supply was very little when it comes to truly elite, difference-making pitchers with present and future projection.
The demand for that profile of pitcher was very much real, and lots of teams were willing to spend a lot for him.
The Dodgers hope he is worth the investment, but if his stuff and accomplishments tell us something, he is more than capable of being a star in MLB.
The post Former Player Asks Major Yoshinobu Yamamoto Question appeared first on The Cold Wire.
