By the time the 2024 season arrives, the New York Yankees may boast one of the strongest starting rotations in all of baseball.

With former All-Star Nestor Cortés hoping for a season of redemption and American League Cy Young Award frontrunner Gerrit Cole, New York has a strong base. The Yankees may end up signing the best pitcher available, as they have already been connected to a number of elite pitchers in free agency. According to SNY’s Andy Martino, New York will allegedly be “strong contenders” for Orix Buffaloes superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

“According to league sources, Yamamoto is set to be posted soon by his NPB team, the Orix Buffaloes,” Martino stated. “He will then have 45 days to sign a contract with a franchise. Although the Yankees are rumored to be serious contenders for Yamamoto’s services, the Mets are the team that is most interested in him.

“Steve Cohen’s offer might have to seriously overwhelm his Bronx neighbors in order to compete for a pitcher who has drawn scouting comparisons to Tim Lincecum.”

The Yankees may end up with the greatest starting pitching tandem in baseball if they can get Yamamoto this offseason and team him with Cole. Yamamoto, who is only 25 years old, has a 1.72 ERA across his seven professional seasons with the Buffaloes. He is among the most intriguing free agents in recent memory and has the ability to drastically alter the Yankees’ season.

This offseason, New York has to make a big impression. It needs to put in a lot of work to become a contender for the World Series again after winning just 82 games in 2023. It would be a huge step in the right way to land Yamamoto.