Christmas week usually brings a lull in Major League Baseball’s offseason action - a time when front offices take a breath, and fans shift their focus to the holidays. But every so often, a move comes along that cuts through the quiet and sends a jolt through the league. Two years ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers delivered exactly that kind of shockwave.
That’s when they signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a jaw-dropping $325 million deal - a record-setting contract for a pitcher coming over from Japan who had yet to throw a single pitch in the majors. The number turned heads across the league, not just because of its size, but because of the risk involved.
But looking back now, it’s clear: the Dodgers weren’t just betting on talent - they were investing in a future ace. And Yamamoto has delivered in every way imaginable.
Fast forward to now, and that move is being recognized as the biggest Christmas week transaction in recent memory. In a ranking of holiday-week blockbusters, Yamamoto’s signing sits firmly at No. 1 - and it’s not just because of what he did this past October.
Yamamoto didn’t just adjust to Major League Baseball - he dominated it. He quickly became one of the most reliable arms in the Dodgers’ rotation, and when the lights were brightest in the 2025 postseason, he was at his absolute best.
His playoff run was nothing short of electric, helping lead the Dodgers to their second straight World Series title. That kind of performance doesn’t just justify a contract - it cements a legacy.
What made the Yamamoto signing even more impressive at the time was the competition. Multiple big-market teams were in on him, and the bidding war was real.
The Dodgers had to outduel other franchises willing to spend in the same stratosphere. That they came out on top - and that Yamamoto has lived up to the hype - is a testament to both their scouting and their willingness to take a bold swing.
And let’s be clear: this wasn’t a case of hindsight making the deal look good. Even at the time, there was a sense that Yamamoto was worth the gamble.
Sure, the price tag was steeper than most expected heading into that winter, but the upside was undeniable. Now, with two rings and a dominant postseason under his belt, the deal looks like a masterstroke.
What Yamamoto has already done in Dodger blue is enough to make the contract feel like a win, regardless of what happens in the years ahead. That’s how impactful his 2025 campaign was - especially in October, when legends are made.
In a sport where free agent investments often come with more risk than reward, the Dodgers gave themselves a gift two Christmases ago. And Yamamoto? He returned the favor by helping deliver another championship to Los Angeles.