The top pitcher available in MLB Free Agency is Tarik Skubal. Multiple teams are expected to go after Skubal in free agency. The New York Yankees could be one of the teams interested in Skubal, but they may also be going after another major pitcher on the free-agent market.
The Yankees are in pursuit of Shoki Oda, an 18-year-old high school pitcher out of Japan. Now, there is an update on the pursuit of the ace, per Brendan Kuty of The Athletic.
“The Yankees sent a contingent of high-level officials to Japan to meet with star high school pitcher Shoki Oda, 18, on Tuesday. Among those seen leaving the meeting were international scouting director Mario Garza, global player acquisitions supervisor Matt Slater, director of pitching Sam Briend, billionaire minority owner Soichiro Minami and scout Alex Sunderland,” Kuty reported. “The meeting lasted approximately two hours — a bit more time than what other teams apparently have been granted with Oda — said league sources, who characterized the Yankees as upbeat about their presentation.”
Oda is an 18-year-old right-handed pitcher who pitched for Yokohama High School. He is choosing between playing for Nippon Professional Baseball or bypassing the league in pursuit of an MLB career. The 6-foot-1 pitcher has a fastball that is already reaching over 97 MPH. He also has a slider, curveball, changeup, splitter, and cutter.
Article Continues Below“It is believed the Yankees were the only team to send a representative from ownership to meet with the 6-foot-1 Oda, who has touched 97.6 mph and would begin his pro career in the minor leagues. The Yomiuri Giants drafted Oda in the first round of the Nippon Professional Baseball draft in October, but the right-hander isn’t expected to sign,” Kuty continued. “Wednesday, Cashman wouldn’t get into details about the Yankees’ meeting with Oda. But Tuesday, he explained how the team has a full-time scout in Japan and how ‘we have scouts we send over every month to the NPB.'”
The Yankees, along with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Texas Rangers, are interested in the pitcher. He is expected to sign with an MLB team when the international signing period opens.