Indeed, and it’s admittedly counterintuitive (at first at least ) that Yankees fans make some of the best contributions to the dialogue here, but it’s true.
Not our Star Blazer: Yamamoto signs with the Dodgers for $325 million, 12 years
- Thread starter TimScribble
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Sorry, got it now. Yeah, unfortunately, there really is a lot of luck involved with how these guys are looked at historically.
I just hope Cohen didn’t take him to Fiores because then nobody else has a shot. /s
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One thing that's interesting to me is how Breslow approaches and frames the discussion with Yamamoto, especially since Breslow has not previously been involved at this level in these types of negotiations. I think there was some reporting that when Breslow was with the Cubs, he had some visibility into certain player negotiations, but he wasn't a senior-level guy framing or carrying the pitch and war-gaming responses to objections, etc.
If the money is all roughly the same among several clubs, what's our pitch to stand out among the crowd? I think some of that has been identified here in this thread, like Yamamoto in Boston would be the No. 1 on the staff and also become the face of the franchise (we're assuming those would be positives for him). Also Breslow's background as a pitcher would presumably be viewed positively by Yamamoto, as would our previous success with Japanese players transitioning into the MLB (though other clubs have had that, too).
There are legacy front office execs who we assume are deeply involved in designing and executing on the pitch, but this is a lot to fall on Breslow's shoulders right out of the box. I'm not suggesting Breslow is incapable of delivering in this moment, only that he's never been in this moment before. Will that matter or not?
If the money is all roughly the same among several clubs, what's our pitch to stand out among the crowd? I think some of that has been identified here in this thread, like Yamamoto in Boston would be the No. 1 on the staff and also become the face of the franchise (we're assuming those would be positives for him). Also Breslow's background as a pitcher would presumably be viewed positively by Yamamoto, as would our previous success with Japanese players transitioning into the MLB (though other clubs have had that, too).
There are legacy front office execs who we assume are deeply involved in designing and executing on the pitch, but this is a lot to fall on Breslow's shoulders right out of the box. I'm not suggesting Breslow is incapable of delivering in this moment, only that he's never been in this moment before. Will that matter or not?
My pitch would be (if money is the same):
1. Boston is a GREAT sports town.
2. This organization has won more championships this century than anyone else.
3. Boston has had numerous significant Japanese players play key roles in championships (Matsuzaka, Okajima, Koji).
4. Boston is an historic and legendary baseball city with a legendary ballpark.
5. We currently have a Japanese superstar on the team (if that matters to Yamamoto).
New York cannot offer all that. Some of it but not all of it.
LA cannot offer all that. Some of it but not all of it.
Only Boston can offer all that.
1. Boston is a GREAT sports town.
2. This organization has won more championships this century than anyone else.
3. Boston has had numerous significant Japanese players play key roles in championships (Matsuzaka, Okajima, Koji).
4. Boston is an historic and legendary baseball city with a legendary ballpark.
5. We currently have a Japanese superstar on the team (if that matters to Yamamoto).
New York cannot offer all that. Some of it but not all of it.
LA cannot offer all that. Some of it but not all of it.
Only Boston can offer all that.
Yeah, and have we seen a team yet demonstrate that they don't care about tax and penalties at all? Even the teams that have lived above the tax thresholds for years at a time eventually pare enough salary to reset the penalties. The Dodgers have done it. The Yankees have done it. They've all done it. And even if they haven't reset in a while, teams spending all kinds of money are still working angles to lower AAV (deferments, adding extra years, options, etc). The only purpose in doing that is to impact the luxury tax calculations. Despite our strongest wishcasting, every team does have a limit.
Also (and I think I'd lead with this) you could be the next coming of Pedro. Show him what Fenway looked like on day's Pedro pitched.
These are interesting thought-games. I dont think his inexperience will matter much. Breslow is an intelligent, compassionate human being. I dont believe there is a one-size-fits-all "pitch." (Not saying that you do.) I think the discussion about baseball will take care of itself. What possible questions will Breslow *not* be able to answer honestly? And to the extent there's inexperience there, I think Breslow's demonstrated qualities as a person away from baseball will be impressive one-on-one to a guy who is about to uproot his life. Obviously, none of us has much of an idea what is driving Yamamoto, so my hypotheses are as likely to be 180 degrees off as any.
And as long as we're taking guesses, maybe Breslow's Yale background trumps Stearns's Harvard.
I hope Pedro is actually involved somehow too, so he can tell him what it's like to be the best pitcher in the world in Fenway. I gather these pitches have tended to focus on Japanese players, but it seems like having people like Pedro and Ortiz speak to what it means to become a Red Sox legend would also carry some weight. I also hope Breslow has a couple balls there and talks splitter grips or whatever. Having the CBO be a pitcher who actually knows stuff on that level might also help.
Not that I know anything about Yamamomo as a person or what he cares about, but I do think there are angles the team can take.
2, 3 and 5 would be my main pitch. I have a sinking feeling about all of it - the organization from the outside doesn't look that stable (3rd GM in 5 years) and let significant players walk. We just aren't that good at the moment - and we haven't been particularly aggressive in the FA market which would lead me to wonder if that was going to change.
Does anyone have an opinion on how likely is that to change over the next 10-12 years of his contract?
This CBA overage penalty is cash, but if that doesn’t turn out to slow Cohens roll then it’s also possible the penalties change.
And play the clips of Papi’s and Victorino’s 2013 ALCS grand slams. Most electric Fenway ever.
Impossible to say since the CBA expires halfway (or less) into a YY deal. Given the rapid decline of the RSN business, how confident can the Sox be in their local revenue? Certainly don’t think they can expect the kind of guaranteed revenues the Dodgers have from their RSN ($300m+ annually no matter how many subs).
The pitch really should be - What do you want?
I would guess he's looking for:
1) Money
2) Respect
3) A place where his efforts will mean something (championships).
4) A place where he will enjoy spending a large portion of the calendar year.
Numbers 2 and 4 are perhaps the biggest opportunity to move the needle compared to the other clubs. Some of that is in the nature of the pitch itself, and others are discrete components of it. Translators, gyms, housing, food, local community, access to Japan, supportive fan-base, etc. Whatever the concerns are ,you anticipate and show that you know, and that you'll work on his behalf to make this a good experience.
Not convinced future Dodgers RSN deals will be any more bullet proof from industry trends than NESN or YES.
Small potatoes likely in the world of 10+ year, $300+ million contracts, but I wonder how much team defense (as currently construed, as that's the only thing remotely predictable) plays into a pitcher's decision-making process. The Sox continue to say all the right things in that regard, but failed miserably to execute any plan to improve the defense on the field last winter, spring or summer. If YY values a team's defensive philosophy/approach, we can only hope Breslow et al., can make a viable case. Luckily, judging by Fangraphs "DEF" metric (Sox are 28th), the NYM (27th) and PHI (23rd) are in a similar boat. The MFY (11), SFG (12) and LAD (14) were all markedly better in 2023, but not otherworldly. I don't know the emphasis any of these teams outside of the Sox (or even the Sox for that matter judging by the offseason thus far) are putting on shoring up the defense, but I imagine it has to be at least a small part of the calculus.
If FSG was really that worried about declining NESN subscriptions limiting their ability to pay for too free agents, they would be selling the club right now instead of trying to add free agents. These guys are smart business people.
View: https://twitter.com/BBisntBoring/status/1736712370045485172
Red Sox & Mets are rumored to make higher offers than the Yankees per Andy Martino
Red Sox & Mets are rumored to make higher offers than the Yankees per Andy Martino
I assume the agent told them:’Give me your best offer, and any conditions you’re attaching’. YY then sits down to decide which he wants to accept.
Be still my beating heart.
Well done! I see what you did!
That would be a fun new thread: all comments only in Haiku form.
Well we've had the same manager since 2017 (brief interlude aside). Breslow has brought in Bailey who apparently is interesting enough to Yamamoto for him to follow Bailey on IG (if that was real?). You and others might not view them as all that stable, but I'm not so sure they look shaky to a player coming from overseas. It's the same ownership group with all the rings and the same people on the field. All that's changed is an executive or two who he won't talk to much after he signs. Is this worse than the Yankees or Dodgers refusing to fire the guys who fall short every year? The Mets have a rookie manager, replacing horrible red-ass Showalter. Everyone has some version of "are we sure they are entirely stable?"
If you are concerned that they don't have a team building story to tell, I think they do, it's just a question of whether he's as interested in that as opposed to some alternatives. No idea there until he signs.
On strong winds blowing
in a northeast direction
the crane flies to Boston.
[The other kind of crane]
I have also thought that Pedro should be part of the pitch. If there's anybody who could awe Yamamoto it would be him, and if there would be anybody who could explain how it feels to be *the man* in Boston and have your starts be treated like events, it would be him.
General request to the group: any interest in creating a pinned post that breaks down the current CBA, including the different salary thresholds, penalties, and where the Sox currently sit at any given point?
I find I end up looking up multiple websites to figure this out, and having it easily accessible might help the substance of the ongoing conversations.
I find I end up looking up multiple websites to figure this out, and having it easily accessible might help the substance of the ongoing conversations.
This is a great idea for a thread!
Maybe not pinned, IMO pinned threads usually get skimmed over.
I was thinking the same thing. NYC is absolutely dismal when you have low cloud cover and heavy rain. In great weather, the city has some allure.
Future headline: "The Sox lost out on Yamamoto when Breslow was unable to answer a simple question from the pitcher at their meeting: 'Can I meet the famous Sam Horn and his sons. They seem wise.' A flummoxed Breslow quickly changed the subject."
There once was a pitcher from Japan
Who may have been just a flash in the pan
But his supporters were certain
Teams that missed him would be hurtin
And Brez would be wise to get him if he can
…We’re doing limericks, right?
Who may have been just a flash in the pan
But his supporters were certain
Teams that missed him would be hurtin
And Brez would be wise to get him if he can
…We’re doing limericks, right?
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