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.
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