Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Japan’s best ‘ace’ pitcher. Is he a target for the St. Louis Cardinals?바카라사이트

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a local newspaper in St. Louis, USA, published an article on the 15th (KST) predicting that the Cardinals will be looking to bolster their starting rotation next season.

The Cardinals will be without their 42-year-old “perennial ace,” Adam Wainwright, who announced his retirement after this season. Wainwright is a “one-club man” who has played for one team since being drafted by the Cardinals. With a player like him on the verge of retirement, St. Louis will have to make some major changes next season.

In particular, they need to fill at least two spots in the starting rotation. “The most intriguing option is Yamamoto,” said the Post-Dispatch, adding that “every team looking to add pitching depth is targeting him.”

Indeed, Yamamoto is one of the top pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball, with major league teams checking in on him from time to time. He’s currently playing for the Orix Buffaloes, but he’s got the stuff to make it to the majors if he wanted to. At the WBC in March, he proved that he can throw fastballs and have great command of his pitches despite his small frame. Yamamoto is also the most reliable “ace” pitcher on the Japanese national baseball team.

As the Post-Dispatch notes, “The Cardinals have had success in recent years with the acquisitions of Kim Kwang-hyun, Seung-hwan Oh, and Miles Mikolas, all of whom have extensive experience in Asian baseball. Given the team’s vibe, Yamamoto could fit right in.”

While there are a number of teams in the running for Yamamoto, the Reds have a chance to win if they are proactive. “Considering the New York Mets paid 30-year-old Senga Kodai $75 million over five years last offseason, Yamamoto, who is only 25 years old, could easily earn a contract in the $20 million range,” the publication said.