Josh Reddick blasts Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s blockbuster deal with the Dodgers: ‘How do you give a guy $325 million without ever throwing a pitch in MLB’
Retired MLB star Josh Reddick criticized Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.
Earlier this week, the Dodgers won the race for one of the most sought-after players in baseball, ahead of the likes of the New York Yankees and Mets, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. , thanks to Yamamoto’s signature.
The Japanese free agent reportedly signed a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers on Thursday.
But Reddick, who retired from baseball earlier this year, criticized the deal, suggesting Yamamoto didn’t deserve the mega-money deal before proving he was an MLB player.
“How do you give a guy $325 million without ever making a single move in the MLB,” Reddick wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Retired MLB star Josh Reddick criticizes Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s contract with Dodgers
Reddick suggested Yamamoto didn’t deserve a deal before proving himself in the MLB
The former outfielder further backed up his statement when he responded to a fan who wrote, “Baseball is ruined,” saying, “I agree.”
However, Reddick, who won a World Series with the Houston Astros, was criticized by other baseball fans for his post.
Many hit back, bringing up the fact that Reddick won the 2017 World Series title with the Astros, who were later at the center of a cheating scandal that involved stealing signs en route to their victory.
One baseball fan wrote: “How come you have a World Series champion on your bio when it’s proven you cheated to win it?”
“How can you claim a World Series that was won by fraud,” echoed another.
“How can someone who openly cheated complain when another player abides by the rules set forth in the MLBPA CBA?” another interrogated. “What a terrible member of the Union you make yourself out to be.”
Fans applauded Reddick, citing the Astros’ 2017 World Series cheating scandal.
Meanwhile, one responded: “How did you go from .258 in 2016 to .314 in 2017 to .242 in 2018? That’s the best question, scammer.”
Reports claim that the Mets were willing to match the Dodgers’ offer of $325 million over 12 years, but the Yankees were only willing to pay $300 million over 10 years.
This comes just weeks after the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani agreed to a mammoth 10-year contract worth $700 million.
Yamamoto’s contract is believed to contain a $50 million signing bonus, potentially made possible by Ohtani deferring $68 million of his salary annually.