Yoshinobu Yamamoto contract details: How much money Dodgers ace is making in 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers are consistently one of the best teams in MLB. They sustain success not only by spending on star players in the United States, but also by excelling at finding top international talent.

One international player the Dodgers struck gold with is starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He starred for Team Japan at the 2023 World Baseball Classic while still playing in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league. Yamamoto was posted on Nov. 23 and signed a massive contract with the Dodgers on Dec. 27, 2023. It set the record for a contract given to an international player who had never played in MLB prior to signing.

Here’s a closer look at how much Yamamoto is making with the Dodgers.

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto contract

Yamamoto signed a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers. It includes a $50 million signing bonus and is fully guaranteed. Unlike Shohei Ohtani’s megadeal, Yamamoto did not defer any payments, meaning the Los Angeles payroll will feel the full impact of his cap hit each season.

Yamamoto also chose L.A. in part because Ohtani had signed his massive contract just over two weeks earlier, on Dec. 11, 2023. Yamamoto admired Ohtani and wanted to be teammates again after their time together playing for Team Japan.

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Why did Yoshinobu Yamamoto sign with Dodgers?

The biggest reason Yamamoto signed with Los Angeles was that the franchise has shown it can sustain success over time. The Dodgers haven’t missed the playoffs since 2012. Los Angeles has reached the World Series five times since 2017, winning twice and with a chance for a third title in the 2025 World Series.

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto age

Yamamoto was born on August 17, 1998. He is 28 years old. He began his professional baseball career in the NPB in 2017 when he was 19 years old. 

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto stats

Regular season

Playoffs