NEW YORK — Yoshinobu Yamamoto will have two opportunities to opt out of his record $325 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, although the timing is tied to his pitching elbow's health.
If Yamamoto has Tommy John surgery or is on the injured list for a right elbow injury for 134 consecutive service days from 2024-29, he would have the right to opt out after the 2031 and 2033 World Series, according to terms of the deal obtained by the AP on Tuesday.
If he avoids Tommy John surgery and doesn't miss that much time with an elbow issue during that window, he can instead opt out after the 2029 and 2031 World Series.
In the first scenario, the Dodgers also would gain a $10 million conditional option for 2036 with no buyout.
Yamamoto does not have the right to block trades but could opt out of the contract after the end of any season in which he is traded.
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If he is traded after a World Series, he would have the right to opt out in the subsequent offseason.
His contract includes a full-time interpreter, personal trainer and physical therapist. Yamamoto gets a hotel suite on road trips and five roundtrip airline tickets each year.
He cannot be assigned to the minor leagues without his consent.
Japan relief pitcher Yuki Matsui agreed on Dec. 23 to a five-year contract with the San Diego Padres.
BRIEFLY
PADRES: Yuki Matsui can earn $33.6 million over five seasons with San Diego if the Japanese reliever becomes the team’s closer, and the pitcher could opt out of the deal after three years and $14.5 million if his pitching elbow remains healthy.
BRAVES: The Boston Red Sox will pay Atlanta $17 million in equal installments of $8.5 million on April 1 and July 1 as part of a trade that sent left-hander Chris Sale to the Braves. Atlanta will pay Sale $500,000 for the seaosn.
REDS: Cincinnati finalized its $16 million, one-year contract with right-hander Frankie Montas. Montas gets $14 million this year, and the deal includes a $20 million mutual option for 2025 and a $2 million buyout.
