Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been one of the best starters in the game since accepting the Dodgers’ 10-year, $325 million contract, and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel named his signing the No. 1 deal to happen in the same week as Christmas since 1990.
“It’s just not recency bias that put this deal atop our list because Yamamoto is one of the best pitchers in the game, has two rings, is coming off an especially strong playoff run, and got his contract after a multipart bidding battle with a number of big-market teams offering deals in the same ballpark as the Dodgers,” McDaniel wrote.
“Though the next deal on this list seemed like maybe not a great idea at the time and that view was quickly vindicated, signing Yamamoto was seen as a great investment at the time of signing, even if the number was higher than anyone expected heading into the winter.”
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Yamamoto’s time with the Dodgers has been extremely successful, and he has propelled himself into Cy Young conversations after just two years in MLB.
Despite missing some time due to injury in 2024, Yamamoto still posted a solid 3.00 ERA through 18 starts, striking out 105 batters through 90 innings pitched. He held together a hobbled rotation in the postseason, making four starts and posting a 3.86 ERA as the Dodgers went on to win the World Series.
The right-hander got even better during his age-26 season in 2025, making 30 starts and posting a 2.49 ERA. He eclipsed 200 strikeouts for the first time in his MLB career, and also received his first All-Star selection. He placed third in the NL Cy Young vote behind Paul Skenes and Cristopher Sanchez.
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Yamamoto dominated the postseason in 2025, making six appearances throughout the Dodgers’ second consecutive World Series campaign. He had a 1.45 ERA and pitched 37.1 innings — logging two complete games. He earned the World Series MVP for his unbelievable performances in the Fall Classic, pitching in three games and giving up just two runs through 17.2 innings.
The Dodgers definitely gave Yamamoto more money than anyone expected, but they’d surely do it all again if they knew what was to come.
Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
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