Recently retired MLB star Josh Reddick expressed his criticism of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers successfully secured the highly sought-after player, outbidding teams like the New York Yankees and Mets, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, and Philadelphia Phillies for Yamamoto’s services.
Yamamoto, the Japanese free agent, reportedly inked a 12-year deal worth $325 million with the Dodgers. Reddick, who retired earlier this year, took issue with the hefty contract, arguing that Yamamoto hadn’t yet proven himself in MLB.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Reddick questioned, “How do you give a guy $325 million without ever throwing a pitch in MLB?” He reiterated his stance when responding to a fan’s comment that “baseball is ruined,” saying, “I agree.”
How do you give a guy $325 million without ever throwing a pitch in MLB
— Josh Reddick (@JRedDubDeuce) December 22, 2023
However, Reddick, a World Series winner with the Houston Astros, faced backlash from other baseball fans for his comments. Many pointed out that the Astros were involved in a sign-stealing scandal during their 2017 championship run.
Critics questioned how Reddick could claim a World Series title that was tarnished by cheating and accused him of hypocrisy. They also brought up his own performance statistics, highlighting fluctuations in his batting average over the years.
Reports indicated that the Mets were willing to match the Dodgers’ $325 million, 12-year offer, while the Yankees were only prepared to offer $300 million over 10 years.
Notably, this news came shortly after the Dodgers secured a massive 10-year, $700 million deal with Shohei Ohtani. Yamamoto’s contract reportedly included a $50 million signing bonus, potentially made possible by Ohtani deferring $68 million of his salary each year.