With both Yankees and Mets interested, Yamamoto to be posted Monday: Report

NEW YORK — The bidding for Yoshinobu Yamamoto is about to begin.

The Japanese ace is expected to be posted on Monday, according to ESPN’S Buster Olney. From there, a 45-day window to negotiate with Yamamoto would begin on Tuesday.

The Yankees and Mets, among other big-market teams, are expected to pursue the 25-yearold right-hander.

Yamamoto has accomplished just about everything imaginable over a seven-year career with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Orix Buffaloes. Already the winner of three Triple Crowns, three ERA titles, two Pacific League MVPS, three Sawamura Awards — Japan’s equivalent of the Cy Young — a Japan Series championship and an Olympic gold medal, the fivetime NPB All-star has more than proven himself in his homeland.

This past season, Yamamoto went 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA. He will be one of the most coveted free agents in baseball, and his services could cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $200 million.

“Obviously, to be that successful in Japan, it’s not an easy feat,” Padres free agent Nick Martinez, who played in the country and against Yamamoto from 2018-2021, previously told the Daily News. “So that speaks worlds to how he trains and how he prepares.

“In my opinion, he’s coming into this league ready to pitch.”

The question now is where will Yamamoto land.

With the Yankees and Mets among those interested after subpar seasons, Yamamoto could spark the first true bidding war between owners Hal Steinbrenner and Steve Cohen.

Bauer dealt to Brewers: The Yankees sent Jake Bauers to the Brewers on Friday for minor league outfielders Jace Avina and Brian Sánchez. Bauers was a non-tender candidate prior to Friday’s 8 p.m. deadline, but the Yankees managed to get two young, flyer-type prospects for a player who didn’t have a clear spot on their roster.

Bauers, 28, had been in the Yankees organization since 2022. The team made changes to his swing in the minors, which yielded results at times in 2023 as the Bombers desperately searched for a lefty-swinging outfielder with pop. Bauers had some limited success in the role, but he was still a below-average hitter.