MLB heavyweights at it again as Japanese pitching sensation inks 12-year, $479m deal

The Dodgers have blown MLB rivals away to steal a Japanese superstar — just days after signing the richest deal in the history of American sport.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has signed a monster deal with the Dodgers. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

The prize pitcher of this winter’s free-agent market has finally picked a team.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto reached agreement with the Dodgers on Thursday, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.

It’s a 12-year deal worth $325 million ($AUD479 million), per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

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The contract surpasses the total value of Gerrit Cole’s then-record $324 million, but is three years longer.

The agreement ends the Japanese right-hander’s month-long free agency following his posting by the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball — who will receive a reported $50.6 million posting fee.

That brings the total deal — which won’t become official until Yamamoto passes a physical — to over $375 million.

The deal contains no defferals, per Heyman.

Yamamoto, who has until January 4 to finalise his deal under terms of his posting, was offered the same length and money by the Mets.

The Yankees offered 10 years and $300 million, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.

The Mets, Yankees, Giants, Phillies, Cubs and Blue Jays all showed interest in the 25-year-old star.

Yamamoto was also coveted by the Mets and the Yankees. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Yamamoto won the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young award in each of the last three seasons and despite his smallish stature — he is listed at 5-foot-10 — has impressed executives with his electric stuff and competitive nature.

Yamamoto was heavily courted by the Mets and Yankees.

Before the winter meetings, team owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Stearns flew to Japan for a meeting with Yamamoto and his family.

Yamamoto and Mets officials later reconvened for dinner at Cohen’s home in Connecticut.

The Yankees met with Yamamoto in Southern California — with team owner Hal Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and pitching coach Matt Blake in the travelling party.

The two sides later met in New York, a day after Yamamoto’s visit to Cohen’s house.

Yamamoto follows in the footsteps of Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani in signing with the Dodgers. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

The Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year contract worth $700 million (with $68 million of the annual $70 million deferred) this month, but that didn’t deter them from pursuing Yamamoto as they looked to rebuild a thin rotation.

A free-agent market for starting pitchers that has been stagnant waiting for Yamamoto’s decision figures to begin heating up.

The next wave of available pitchers includes National League Cy Young award winner Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery and Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga.

The Mets added to their rotation before the winter meetings by signing Luis Severino to a one-year contract worth $13 million.

The Yankees bolstered their line-up by trading with the Padres for Juan Soto, who is entering the final year of his contract and could command the biggest contract for a one-way player next winter.

This story originally appeared on the New York Post and has been reposted with permission

Originally published as MLB heavyweights at it again as Japanese pitching sensation inks 12-year, $479m deal