Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Orix Buffaloes) is arguably the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball. He has won four major awards (wins, ERA, strikeouts, and winning percentage) for the last two years in a row and is on track to win his third consecutive award this year.

Yamamoto plans to move to the American Major League Baseball on the postseason system after this season. Major League clubs have been interested in Yamamoto since the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March, and there are already major destinations being discussed.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported on March 12 (KST), “The New York Mets will not be silent in free agency after the season. Yamamoto could be the best fit.”

The Mets spent more than $500 million (about 69 billion won) to attract free agents last winter, but after falling to the bottom of the National League East by the end of July, they abandoned the season by trading away their main players.

The team decided to look to the future by trading Cy Young Award winners Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander to Texas and Houston, respectively.

After Scherzer was traded, Mets general manager Billy Appler released a statement saying, “We’re not signing any big free agents this offseason, and we’re looking to win a championship in 2025 or 2026”. Realizing that the Mets were unlikely to challenge for a championship, he overrode his trade veto and accepted the trade to Texas.

However, Rosenthal added, “Baseball insiders don’t believe Mets owner Steve Coen won’t sign free agents. What the Mets have said they don’t have is a pitcher in his mid-to-late 30s and a big contract. The Mets will continue to spend money in free agency, according to a person familiar with the organization, but will target free agents who can compete with the young prospects they are developing now for 2025 and beyond.”

In that regard, Rosenthal said, the Mets’ best free agent fit is Yamamoto, who will be a major leaguer. Yamamoto will turn 25 on his 17th birthday. Young.

Not only did Appler watch Yamamoto in person at the WBC, but he traveled to Japan to watch him play this season.

The Mets already signed Kodai Senga to a five-year, $75 million deal last winter. Senga is 8-6 with a 3.24 ERA in 21 starts with his signature ghost fork. His ERA is fourth in the National League. Senga’s success is a positive sign for Yamamoto.온라인바카

In 16 starts this season, Yamamoto is 11-4 with a 1.57 ERA, 118 strikeouts, and 15 QS. He ranks first in wins, first in ERA, first in winning percentage, and third in strikeouts, making him one of the best pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball.