#Nippon Professional Baseball
#Nippon Professional Baseball

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Contract Details: Blocking Minor League Assignment, Hotel Suite & More

Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed the richest deal for a pitcher in baseball history with a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The contract includes a $50 million signing bonus, luxury perks, and the ability for Yamamoto to dictate his spot on the Major League roster. [ more ]

Dodgers Nation

Yoshinobu Yamamoto's Former Teammate on New Dodgers Pitcher, 'He's Prepared His Whole Life For This Moment'

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto in addition to Shohei Ohtani, making them dominant in the 2024 offseason.

Yamamoto is highly regarded for his skills in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league and is praised as a great person by former teammate Adam Jones. [ more ]

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Boston.com

Boston Red Sox

Where the Red Sox stand in the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes

The New York Mets are the current favorites to sign pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, with the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers close behind.

The Boston Red Sox are among the teams interested in Yamamoto, but it's unclear if they will pursue him due to his high price tag. [ more ]

Dodgers Nation

4 weeks ago

Incredible Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Ichiro Suzuki Bobblehead Released by FOCO

The newest FOCO bobblehead features three great Japanese baseball players, highlighting their transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB. [ more ]

Dodger Blue

Chicago Cubs Sign Shota Imanaga To 4-Year Contract

The Chicago Cubs signed Japanese left-hander Shōta Imanaga to a four-year deal worth a reported $53 million.

Imanaga had offers from other teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, but ultimately chose to join the Cubs. [ more ]

Dodger Blue

Shota Imanaga Rumors: Signing With Chicago Cubs

Shōta Imanaga is signing with the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs have been searching for starting pitching all offseason. [ more ]

Dodger Blue

Shota Imanaga Rumors: Dodgers Among Interested Teams

ShÅta Imanaga is attempting to make the jump from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB.

Imanaga is a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher with wide appeal to teams in need of rotation depth. [ more ]

Dodger Blue

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Rumors: Preference May Be To Sign With Team On West Coast

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a top Japanese pitcher, is expected to enter MLB free agency and has garnered interest from several teams.

Yamamoto has won three consecutive Sawamura Awards, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award.

Some believe Yamamoto has a preference for signing with a team on the West Coast. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

Roki Sasaki Re-Signs With NPB's Lotte Marines, Discusses Future

Roki Sasaki re-signed with the Lotte Marines of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball on a one-year contract.

Sasaki's decision to stay in Japan dispels rumors of him attempting to make the jump to MLB this winter. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

NPB's Yomiuri Giants Sign Rougned Odor

Rougned Odor has signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Odor had been a free agent since he was released by the Padres in July. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

Anderson Espinoza Signs With NPB's Orix Buffaloes

The Orix Buffaloes signed right-hander Anderson Espinoza and righty Luis Castillo.

Espinoza is a well-known former prospect who has dealt with injuries. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

Blue Jays Reportedly Optimistic About Signing Yariel Rodriguez

The Toronto Blue Jays are optimistic about signing right-hander Yariel Rodríguez, but immigration issues have delayed the deal.

Rodríguez has a strong track record in the Cuban National Series and the Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball league. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

Andre Jackson Signs With NPB's Yokohama BayStars

Andre Jackson has signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Jackson's move to the BayStars comes after being designated for assignment and released by the Pirates. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

NPB's Orix Buffaloes Sign Cody Thomas

Cody Thomas signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Thomas had brief stints in the MLB with the A's in the past two years. [ more ]

NBC Sports Bay Area & California

San Francisco Giants

Reports: Rumored Giants target Imanaga heading to Cubs

Japanese left-hander Shōta Imanaga has reached a deal with the Chicago Cubs.

Imanaga's deal will be for multiple years with an average annual value in the range of $15 million. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

Anthony Kay To Sign With NPB's Yokohama BayStars

Left-hander Anthony Kay is signing with the Yokohama BayStars of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Kay has yet to find much MLB success, but his ability to miss bats makes him an intriguing flier for an NPB team. [ more ]

New York Post

Chicago Cubs

Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga agrees to deal with Cubs after Mets, Yankees had interest

The Cubs have signed Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga to add to their pitching rotation.

Imanaga has a career record of 64-50 with a 3.18 ERA in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

Chicago Cubs

Cubs To Sign Edwin Escobar

The Cubs have signed left-hander Edwin Escobar to a contract, details unknown.

Escobar has spent the past seven seasons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and has had impressive stats.

The Cubs bullpen is in need of upgrades. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

Rays Interested In Naoyuki Uwasawa

The Tampa Bay Rays have shown interest in pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa, who recently became available in free agency.

Uwasawa has garnered attention from multiple MLB teams due to his track record in the Nippon Professional Baseball league and potentially lower price tag. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

NPB's Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Sign Andrew Stevenson

Outfielder Andrew Stevenson has signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan.

Stevenson has primarily been a glove-first outfielder in his major league career.

By signing with the Fighters, Stevenson secures a guaranteed salary and the opportunity for future earnings in Japan or a potential return to North America. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

Miguel Yajure Signs With NPB's Yakult Swallows

Miguel Yajure has signed a one-year contract with the Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Yajure, originally signed by the Yankees, made his MLB debut in 2020 and was later traded to the Pirates. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

NPB's Chiba Lotte Marines Sign Jimmy Cordero

Relief pitcher Jimmy Cordero signs a contract with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Cordero was non-tendered by the Yankees and faced a season-ending suspension for violating the domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy. [ more ]

MLB Trade Rumors

NPB's Seibu Lions Sign Franchy Cordero, Albert Abreu

Franchy Cordero and Albert Abreu have both signed with the Seibu Lions of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Cordero has shown potential in the past with a rare combination of power and speed, but has struggled with plate discipline and strikeouts. [ more ]

Boston.com