The Dodgers are looking to make another move.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, their star pitcher, recently enjoyed dinner with Munetaka Murakami, who is considered Japan’s top free agent this offseason. It might have just been a friendly meetup, right?
Yet, it’s hard to ignore how the Dodgers have turned into a free agency powerhouse, reminiscent of the Yankees during their dominant years, bringing in high-profile players regardless of the price.
They have an impressive history in international signings, too. Last offseason, they inked Yamamoto to a record-breaking $325 million deal, secured Shohei Ohtani for a whopping $700 million, and added Juan Soto in a trade with the Mets.
Both Yamamoto and Ohtani have played pivotal roles in the Dodgers’ back-to-back championship victories, defeating the Yankees in five games in 2024 and the Blue Jays in seven games this past season.
This offseason, they’ve also added promising young player Loki Sasaki.
Yamamoto and Ohtani came on standard free agent deals, while Sasaki’s deal included a $6.5 million signing bonus. Although he faced injuries and recorded a 4.46 ERA during the regular season, his postseason performance was stellar, boasting an ERA of 0.84 and three saves as the primary relief pitcher.
Now, there’s potential for the Dodgers to acquire Murakami, who was recently posted.
At 25 years old, Murakami has already hit 246 home runs in his eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, breaking records with 56 homers in 2022. Reports suggest he could sign a six-year, $150 million contract, placing him ninth among this year’s free agents.
While they currently have Max Muncy under a $10 million contract for next season, Murakami would fit well into the lineup, either at third base or as the designated hitter.
It’s pretty remarkable, really. The Dodgers have immense talent, with players like Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki, plus MVPs such as Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, and they’re still poised to make significant acquisitions.
It makes you wonder, with the postseason revealing a need for outfield depth, could the Dodgers also pursue top free agent Kyle Tucker?
It seems that once again, the rich are finding ways to get richer.
