NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Brian Cashman flew across the globe in September to personally scout Yoshinobu Yamamoto and saw him throw a no-hitter.
In case that didn’t make the Yankees’ intentions clear enough, Cashman reaffirmed their interest on Tuesday in the Japanese right-hander who is the top arm on the free-agent market.
“We’ve scouted him extensively and think he’s going to be a really successful pitcher anywhere he pitches on the planet,” Cashman said Tuesday at the winter meetings. “He’s a free agent and we’ll see where it takes us. But we’ve definitely had conversations and will give our best efforts.”
Cashman declined to comment on whether the Yankees planned to meet with Yamamoto and his representatives in Southern California after the winter meetings, but The Post’s Joel Sherman has reported that is the case.
They won’t be the only ones, though. Yamamoto is expected to have plenty of big-market suitors (including the Giants, Mets and Dodgers), and at some point before his posting window closes on Jan. 4, he is likely to land a contract north of $200 million.
“It’s hard to find a 25-year-old pitcher that’s as decorated as he is and has had the level of success he’s had at this point in his career over there and on the world stage in the WBC,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Our reports are that this guy’s really good, as I think the industry sees it the same way. It feels like there’s going to be a lot of suitors for him. But I feel quite confident that he’s going to come over here and be a really special top-of-the-rotation type pitcher.”
Asked if Yamamoto would look good in pinstripes, Boone chuckled.
“I think he probably would, yeah,” Boone said with a big grin.
Cashman, who later echoed that sentiment, traveled to Japan to watch Yamamoto pitch but said he didn’t learn anything beyond what his scouts had already told him from their extensive groundwork. That being said, Cashman called Yamamoto’s no-hitter “artistry” and “really moving,” before explaining why it was important for him to see the pitcher in person.
“Wanted to make sure we go over there and pay respects,” Cashman said. “He knew we were there. It was widely covered. I think a lot of teams went over there with their executives, and I certainly wasn’t going to make the mistake of not being one of the executives over there too, because I think all of it plays a part. Like any effort, the contract negotiation is an important part of it, but I also think those types of personal touches are also important.”
Cashman and the Yankees have experience in signing Japanese stars and seeing them succeed in The Bronx, including Masahiro Tanaka and Hideki Matsui. Cashman would not say whether either of them would be active in helping the Yankees recruit Yamamoto.
“Ultimately, we’ll play every card necessary that we think is gonna help us and see where it takes us,” Cashman said.
As constructed, the Yankees do not necessarily have to add to their rotation, though that could change if they deal the likes of Michael King or Clarke Schmidt in a potential Juan Soto trade. Beyond AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole (on a $324 million contract), the Yankees are banking on bounce-back seasons from Carlos Rodon ($162 million) and Nestor Cortes. But it’s clear that adding a pitcher the caliber of Yamamoto is an opportunity the Yankees believe is worth chasing.
It’s possible that the pursuit of Yamamoto could come down to a bidding war between the Yankees and Mets. Asked about competing with Steve Cohen, Cashman called the Mets owner “a titan of industry” and said he didn’t know if anyone could compete with Cohen.
“Obviously it’s a player of interest and we will compete for him and see where that takes us and it will be enough or it won’t be enough,” Cashman said. “But I think we do have a strong setup currently and we’d just like to add to it if we can.”