Yoshinobu Yamamoto's complete game vs. Yankees has Dodgers flexing over contract

While it's always going to be up for debate with a rotation like the Los Angeles Dodgers' — which has multiple MVPs, Cy Youngs, All-Star nods, and many millions of dollars among them — Yoshinobu Yamamoto is proving that he's their greatest raw talent.

From his near-no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles last season, to his back-to-back complete games in the postseason, to his near-perfect game against the Chicago White Sox this year, to his first regular season complete game against the Yankees on Sunday afternoon ... no one is doing it quite like Yamamoto.

In the first game of a doubleheader in the Bronx, he threw nine innings of two-run baseball on 102 pitches, his most efficient outing of the year so far. He only struck out seven and allowed a homer, but the Dodgers responded with eight runs of support.

Yamamoto's 12-year, $325 million contract is the largest for a pitcher by total value, but he's only the 12th-highest paid starter this year by AAV, if you include Shohei Ohtani and Tarik Skubal's arbitration-won salary.

This is only the third year of Yamamoto's deal and he'll be 36 by the time it expires, but I feel confident making this call right now: he's being underpaid.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto's $325 million contract is going to look like a steal by the time his Dodgers tenure is over

Yamamoto has been a stalwart for the rotation over the last two years — the only Dodgers starter to remain fully healthy since Opening Day 2025, which is a feat in itself when you pitch for LA's beleaguered staff.

Yamamoto is on pace to set a new career high in innings (184⅔) this season. If he manages to even get close to replicating his 2025 postseason success this year, Yamamoto will already be well on his way to becoming one of the greatest October performers in Dodgers history.

While Yamamoto may not have a no-hitter, a perfect game, or even a complete game shutout under his belt yet, he's already gotten so close to all of three that they feels less like 'if's and more like 'when's.

Yamamoto's deal was stunning when it was first announced. The naysayers wondered how the Dodgers could ever give so much money to what was essentially a wild card. It's taken him less than three years to start up a different conversation entirely: how in the world did the Dodgers get this guy at such a bargain?

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow