Cubs reportedly scouting Japanese superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto |
It has been no secret that the Cubs have been looking to add starting pitching over the past two seasons and, for better or worse, more power arms. Adding
Jameson Taillon last offseason was a step in that direction, but his 2023 couldn't have been worse as it got to the point where most Cubs fans were ready to give up on him. The Cubs also have Ben Brown and Cade Horton waiting in the wings in the minors, but both are at least one year away, so their help won't be coming in the rotation until about 2025.
That leaves this team in the same position they were in last season as they continue to search for power arms to help anchor this staff. You have heard the trade rumors about Tyler Glasnow becoming a target, but for a guy who has never thrown more than 120 innings, that doesn't seem like a good financial strategy. Then comes the free agent market, where plenty of starting pitchers will be available again this winter. Aaron Nola and Blake Snell do headline the class, but given the season that Snell had and what Nola did in the postseason up until his last start, expect their price tags to remain high as most teams are going to fight for them. Another high-priced and coveted ace has never even thrown a pitch on American soil apart for the WBC, as Yoshinobu Yamamoto is arguably going to be the most sought-after pitcher this season. There is a reason all 30 teams sent scouts to Japan recently to watch this guy throw, as many feel he is one of the best, if not the best-starting pitcher to ever come from Japan. With that said, he won't come cheap, and many teams know that, realistically, five or six teams would have a shot at landing him with a legitimate offer. The Cubs are one of those six teams that could land him if they wanted, and according to reports, they not only want him but are putting themselves in a position to make a serious run at landing him. Ever since stepping foot on the NPB circuit, the 25-year-old Yamamoto has dominated Japanese hitters to the point where it hasn't been fair. His level of dominance over the past three seasons has even surpassed guys like Kodai Senga and Yu Darvish, who were viewed as some of the most dominant Japanese hurlers in recent memories. Given what he has already accomplished and that he is just 25, Yamamoto is well on his way to being the best Japanese hurler and could find himself as a 200-million-dollar arm before too long. While the Cubs are interested, they are not alone, as the Mets, Yankees, Giants, and Dodgers are the five teams that are the favorites right now. If everything comes down to money, the Cubs may be further down this list, but if 200 million is the cap, then the Cubs have as good of a shot as anyone to land him. Granted, the NPB is an entirely different style of baseball that tends to make players stats look better, but you can't argue the success that Yamamoto has had thus far in just a few seasons. Since breaking into the league seven years ago, Yamamoto has been a steady force on the NPB circuit, but it has been the past three years that he has started to put himself on the map. Across his 172 games in the NPB, Yamamoto has posted a 70-29 record with a stellar 1.82 ERA. He has added 14 complete games, eight shutouts, and even one save in the process. Going a bit further, it has been his command that sets him apart, as he has 922 strikeouts in 897 innings while walking just over 200. He has also held opponents to just a .171 average as a pitcher and has allowed a total of 36 homers in nearly 900 innings. All of that would play well at Wrigley Field, but there are always going to be concerns when signing a Japanese player. For starters, you have to take into account the different styles of play and that they will need to adjust to the American Game. Some of them adjust quicker than others, so you need to make sure it is a great deal before making it happen. Another thing teams need to pay more attention to when signing Japanese pitchers is that they pitch fewer innings in Japan due to having more off days during the season. This tends to affect them early on in their MLB careers, as a higher amount of innings leads to fatigue down the stretch. Should you get past both those scenarios, you are looking at a potential future ace that could lock down this staff for years to come. Anytime you are 25 years old and armed with a fastball that consistently sits in the 95-97 MPH, teams are going to covet you from day one. It is the secondary pitches that set you apart from everyone else, as Yamamoto has one of the best splitters in the game while also offering three other breaking pitches to keep hitters guessing. His price tag will be steep, but this may be the one time a Japanese player is worth the price tag.
