The Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes are over, and the Dodgers, once again, are the winners.
The Japanese ace has reportedly signed a deal with Los Angeles, joining two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani out on the West Coast in what has been a home run offseason for the Dodgers.
The deal makes him the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history, surpassing the previous mark set by Yankees star Gerrit Cole. It also puts him in a tie for the ninth-highest contract among all MLB players in overall value.
Yamamoto is the latest Japanese star to make the jump overseas to the MLB. He is arguably the most intriguing prospect from the country since Ohtani signed with the Angels ahead of the 2018 season.
In seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes of the Nippon Baseball League, Yamamoto accumulated a 1.72 ERA as a starter . He ended his NPB career by winning his third consecutive Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award, becoming only the third player ever to accomplish the feat. Yamamoto joined Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki and right-handed pitcher Hisashi Yamada, a submariner who dominated the league during the '70s, in the elite company.
MORE: Shohei Ohtani and the biggest contracts in sports history
Yoshinobu Yamamoto contract details
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the contract for Yamamoto is 12 years for $325 million. It carries an average annual value of just over $27 million a season.
Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on an 12-year, $325 million contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2023
The deal is $1 million more than Cole's which previously stood as the highest contract for a major league pitcher.
There are also reportedly a pair of opt-outs in the deal, according to Passan. However, the exact details of these opt-outs are not yet known.
In addition to the $325 million given in the contract, the Dodgers are paying a $50 million posting feee, bringing the total cost for Los Angeles to $375 million to sign the right-handed ace.
How old is Yoshinobu Yamamoto?
Yamamoto is 25 years old, at the time of signing his contract with the Dodgers. He'll be 37 when the deal expires in 2035.
Largest contracts in MLB history
Overall value
| Player | Signed Team | Length | Value |
| Shohei Ohtani | Dodgers | 10 | $700 million |
| Mike Trout | Angels | 12 | $426.5 million |
| Mookie Betts | Dodgers | 12 | $365 million |
| Aaron Judge | Yankees | 9 | $360 million |
| Manny Machado | Padres | 11 | $350 million |
| Francisco Lindor | Mets | 10 | $341 million |
| Fernando Tatis Jr. | Padres | 14 | $340 million |
| Bryce Harper | Phillies | 13 | $330 million |
| Giancarlo Stanton | Marlins | 13 | $325 million |
| Corey Seager | Rangers | 10 | $325 million |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Dodgers | 12 | $325 million |