The New York Mets have not had a great start to the Steve Cohen era, failing to have good campaigns despite big signings and possessing the highest payroll in MLB history.
Despite that, Cohen is still looking to improve his roster and seems to be going all in for Japan’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
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Yamamoto is, after Shohei Ohtani, perhaps the best free agent available on the market, being posted by the Orix Buffaloes of the Japan League, with many teams seeking his services, but perhaps none as interested as Cohen and the Mets.
Cohen traveled to Japan to see Yamamoto
According to information from Mike Puma of The New York Post, Steve Cohen traveled to Japan to personally talk with Yoshinobu Yamamoto and his representatives, before the Japanese pitcher goes to the United States to negotiate with the other teams interested in him.
Yamamoto’s potential contract price is believed to have already exceeded the initial $250 million he was thought to be able to get, with reports now indicating that he could now sign a mega-contract of up to $300 million or more.
Yamamoto’s impressive career
Yamamoto has dominated the NPB at will in recent years, with a lifetime record of 70-29, 1.82 ERA and 986 strikeouts in 7 seasons. He has won 2 Pacific League MVPs, 3 Eiji Sawamura awards (the equivalent of the Cy Young in Japan) and three consecutive Triple Crowns from 2021 to 2023.
In addition, he was a Japan Series champion in 2022 with the Orix Buffaloes, gold medalist in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and won the 2023 World Baseball Classic with the Japanese national team.
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