The Chicago Cubs’ disappointment continued this offseason, as the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to terms with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, according to several reports.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the deal was worth $325 million over 12 years. The Dodgers have yet to officially confirm the transaction.
After missing out on Shohei Ohtani, Yamamoto was the Cubs’ #1 priority. Yamamoto will now join him in Los Angeles, along with another Cubs trade target, Tyler Glasnow, who was traded from Tampa Bay to the Dodgers.
This has been a recurring theme for Chicago this offseason. It’s been a difficult few weeks attempting to enhance the roster. Whether it’s because the Cubs sought to avoid a bidding war or because free agents simply did not want to play in Chicago, the club has had little success.
The fact that the Cubs were not a finalist for Yamamoto softens the impact. A pitcher of his calibre from overseas, however, with three straight Pacific League MVP awards, would have been a boost to the Cubs’ pitching staff.
The Cubs will now have to search at other possibilities in order to make up for lost ground.
The front office may be able to provide what first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger is looking for. Bellinger is the greatest free-agent bat on the market, with a substantial drop-off in the market after him.
In terms of pitching needs, Blake Snell has emerged as the clear first choice for the Cubs if they are willing to pay a large salary. Both the two-time Cy Young Award winner and former Texas Rangers lefty Jordan Montgomery are still available.
