Bl.eacher Report names Braves a top landing spot for Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The Braves have already been linked to two top free agent starting pitchers in Aaron Nola and Sonny Gray by Jon Morosi of MLB Network. That aligns with what Ken Rosenthal also reported yesterday, suggesting the Braves will spend big in free agency for the right starting pitcher.

But what if the right starting pitcher isn’t Aaron Nola or Sonny Gray? Perhaps it’s 25-year-old Japanese superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He’s set to join Major League Baseball next year, and some believe he will be the most sought after free agent starting pitcher after posting a 1.72 ERA and 4.56 SO/BB ratio across seven seasons in the NPB.

Rymer barely had the Braves cracking the list of top landing spots for Yamamoto, sneaking in at #10 of 10. However, I would argue they should be even higher if they are serious about spending money on an elite starting pitcher, which they seem to be, given their interest in Aaron Nola.

Like Nola, Yamamoto is a workhouse capable of going deep into games. He strikes out batters at a high clip but also limits his walks. What makes him perhaps even more appealing is his age. He’s only 25-years-old, so whoever signs him will be getting him in the prime of his career.

Of course, it’s always difficult to judge the priorities of free agents from Japan. Some are focused on staying closer to home on the West Coast, some like the bigger markets or want to play with other players from Japan, while others just want the most dollars in their bank account.

That’s a lot of unknowns to factor in. But if one of Yamamoto’s top priorities is winning and the Braves are willing to give him a healthy contract, one would think they are on a short list of teams with a chance of landing him.