Yoshinobu Yamamoto has officially signed a record-breaking deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, ending one of the most highly anticipated free-agent pursuits of the offseason. The star right-hander agreed to a 12-year, $325 million contract, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, choosing the Dodgers over strong offers from the New York Mets and Yankees.

Both the Mets and Dodgers reportedly offered the same $325 million, while the Yankees were slightly behind at $300 million, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. With the financials nearly identical across his top choices, what made Yamamoto pick Los Angeles?

MLB insider Jon Morosi pointed to two key reasons: Yamamoto simply wanted to be a Dodger and was eager to play alongside Shohei Ohtani. The presence of Ohtani, who signed his own historic contract with LA earlier this offseason, was a major factor in Yamamoto’s decision, reinforcing the Dodgers’ appeal as a premier destination for international talent.

The Cost and Structure of the Deal

Yamamoto’s contract makes history as the largest ever given to a pitcher, surpassing Gerrit Cole’s nine-year, $324 million deal with the Yankees in 2019. However, the total cost for the Dodgers is even higher due to Major League Baseball’s posting system. The team must pay a $50.6 million posting fee to Yamamoto’s former club, the Orix Buffaloes, bringing the total financial commitment to approximately $375.6 million.

The contract reportedly includes two opt-outs, per Passan, though the exact years in which they take effect have yet to be disclosed. According to Andy Martino of SNY, Yamamoto's camp originally sought opt-outs in years five and eight, while the Mets were offering an opt-out after five years.

High Expectations for the Dodgers

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With the additions of Yamamoto, Ohtani, and the trade-and-extension for Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers have committed over $1 billion in contracts this offseason. While they’ve been one of baseball’s most consistently dominant teams over the past decade, winning 10 division titles and making three World Series appearances since 2013, their lone championship in that span came in the shortened 2020 season.

Despite multiple 100-win seasons, their recent postseason struggles—exiting in the NLDS two years in a row—have put pressure on manager Dave Roberts and the entire organization. With their star-studded roster, anything short of a deep playoff run in 2024 will be seen as a disappointment. The pressure is now firmly on Los Angeles to turn their regular-season dominance into another championship.