The Los Angeles Dodgers have every reason to feel proud of how they’ve managed their substantial payroll in recent years. Their strategic investments have not only broken records but also paved the way for consecutive World Series victories.
Central to this success is the groundbreaking contract awarded to Shohei Ohtani, the two-way sensation who has been instrumental in the Dodgers’ championship runs. Yet, another record-setting deal is proving equally fruitful for the team.
Following Ohtani’s signing, the Dodgers inked a historic 12-year, $325 million contract with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a pitcher from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league. This deal marked the largest ever for a player transitioning directly from the NPB to Major League Baseball. At the time, many viewed this as a gamble, including former Dodgers outfielder Josh Reddick.
Reddick openly questioned the decision, wondering aloud on X, formerly known as Twitter, “How do you give a guy $325 million without ever throwing a pitch in MLB?” His skepticism was shared by many who were unsure of Yamamoto’s potential impact at the major league level.
However, Yamamoto has since silenced critics, emerging as one of the top starting pitchers in baseball. His performances were pivotal in the Dodgers’ latest championship triumph, where he earned the World Series Most Valuable Player Award. Yamamoto’s stellar outing included a complete game with 15 strikeouts and just two earned runs over more than 17 innings.
Reflecting on Yamamoto’s achievements, Reddick was recently prompted to reconsider his earlier doubts. The former Dodger has since backtracked on his initial criticisms, acknowledging the impressive return on the Dodgers’ investment.
Given that success, Reddick was recently asked if he regrets his skepticism. And the former player walked back his insult.
“He’s obviously a very, very talented pitcher,” Reddick conceded during an appearance on “Foul Territory.” “So I tip my cap to him. He’s obviously very good. I was wrong, Dodgers fans. Do I apologize? Probably not. But good for him. He’s a great pitcher. I’m glad I don’t have to face him, because that splitter is terrifying.”
Reddick is probably best remembered for his time as a member of the Houston Astros, which included the 2017 World Series championship. But he also played for the Boston Red Sox, Athletics and Arizona Diamondbacks in his career. His best season came in 2012 for the Athletics, when he slashed .242/.305/.463 with 32 home runs, earning a Gold Glove Award and some votes for the Most Valuable Player Award.
In 2016, he was traded to the Dodgers and played with the team for just 47 games before signing with the Astros as a free agent.
Apparently, that brief stint didn’t do much to instill faith in the franchise’s front office, as Reddick seems willing to openly criticize the team’s biggest moves. But now that he’s been proven wrong on Yamamoto, perhaps he will hold off on judging the Dodgers’ future blockbusters, even if he won’t necessarily apologize for any strong opinions.
