Mets, Yankees expected to fight over Japanese ace in free agency

Yoshinobu Yamamoto's impending arrival to Major League Baseball has pitted crosstown rivals against one another.

Among the plethora of teams that have expressed interest in signing Yamamoto once he hits free agency, New York's clubs are reportedly two of the front-runners. Per SNY's Andy Martino, the Mets are "all over" the Japanese ace, with others around the league believing the Yankees will also be "strong contenders" to acquire him. 

The Yankees are believed to have a slight edge over their New York counterparts in the race to acquire Yamamoto, with Martino arguing the Amazins' will have a "tougher time" securing his talents. Though Mets owner Steve Cohen has signed other top-tier free agents in the past by outbidding the competition, ESPN’s Buster Olney said on his "Baseball Tonight" podcast, "I think the Yankees will blow away the field [for Yamamoto]."

For the first time in a long time, the Mets and Yankees find themselves in similar situations entering the offseason. New York's teams entered the 2023 season boasting the two highest payrolls in the MLB only to severely underperform and miss the playoffs. The signings of free-agent aces Justin Verlander and Carlos Rodon last offseason didn't pan out as expected, with the Mets trading the former at the trade deadline and the latter posting a 6.85 ERA with the Yankees.

With both clubs back in the market for starting pitching to headline their rotations, an all-out bidding war is likely to ensue in New York. The Mets and Yankees won't be alone, however. The Cubs, Red Sox, Cardinals, Dodgers, Tigers and Diamondbacks have all expressed interest in Yamamoto, per the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

The hype surrounding Yamamoto is certainly warranted. The 25-year-old has won the Eiji Sawamura Award — NPB's equivalent to the Cy Young Award — in three straight years, as well as the Triple Crown in wins, ERA and strikeouts during each of the past three seasons.

The Orix Buffaloes announced Sunday they would soon post their star pitcher for MLB teams. Once this happens, Yamamoto will have 45 days to negotiate with all 30 clubs and agree to a new deal. 

Based on early noise, the Big Apple seems to be a likely landing spot for the big free agent.