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The New York Yankees watched as the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their 2024 World Series victory on their home field last October. Shortly after, the Yankees saw the Dodgers outpace them in securing the most highly sought-after pitcher on the free-agent market, Roki Sasaki.
This marked the second consecutive offseason in which the Dodgers signed a top Japanese pitcher, having previously acquired right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto in December 2023 with a 12-year, $325 million contract. The Yankees had shown interest in both Yamamoto and Sasaki.
On Friday, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was asked to reflect on the Dodgers’ success in attracting Sasaki and Yamamoto, players from a country that had once produced major stars for the Yankees like Masahiro Tanaka, Hideki Matsui, and Ichiro Suzuki. Cashman responded, saying that while the Yankees are properly scouting international talent, it’s also about positioning themselves as the best destination for these players compared to other teams.
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He acknowledged that the Dodgers have done a great job of securing top Japanese talent, thanks in part to the recruiting influence of Shohei Ohtani. “They obviously had a great recruiter in Shohei Ohtani,” Cashman said, suggesting that Ohtani’s relationships and impact in Japan have given the Dodgers a significant edge.
In December 2023, Ohtani signed a historic 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers, and Yamamoto soon followed, in part due to Ohtani’s recruitment efforts. The Dodgers ultimately secured their eighth championship after defeating the Yankees in the 2024 World Series in five games. Both Ohtani, the reigning NL MVP, and Yamamoto played pivotal roles in the Dodgers’ postseason success.
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