Yoshinobu Yamamoto reportedly agrees to join Dodgers on record 12-year, $325 million

[Seven]

Originally Posted by packs

I understand the Japanese league is second to MLB in terms of talent but it’s a distant second. The contract dollars are built around mystique. I don’t think there’s any reason an MLB team would draft a pitcher first overall and pay them 25 mil. Why do it on the international stage?

I think it has partially to do with the fact that the NPB has closed the gap somewhat in terms of talent to the Major Leagues, the seasoning that Yammamoto has, and the fact that he's been so dominant in the NPB.

That being said, 12 years 325 million for a guy that has never thrown a single major league pitch is ridiculous. I'm all for the players being paid fairly, but the salaries have completely jumped the shark. Hell quite frankly everything has when it comes to money, with our national pastime.