NEW YORK — Yoshinobu Yamamoto will become a free agent Tuesday and major league teams can sign him through 5 p.m. EST on Jan. 4.
Nippon Professional Baseball notified Major League Baseball that the 25-year-old right-hander’s club, the Orix Buffaloes, was posting him for availability to MLB teams. MLB notified the 30 teams of the posting on Monday, and under the agreement between MLB and NPB the negotiating period starts at 8 a.m. Tuesday and extends for up to 45 days.
Yamamoto was 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA this season, striking out 169 and walking 28 in 164 innings, and has a 70-29 record with 1.82 ERA in seven seasons with Orix. He struck out a Japan Series record 14 in a Game 6 win over Hanshin on Nov. 5, throwing a 138-pitch complete game. Orix went on to lose Game 7.
He pitched his second career no-hitter, the 100th no-hitter in Japanese big league history, on Sept. 9 for the Buffaloes against the Lotte Marines. The game, watched by MLB executives that included New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, extended his scoreless streak to 42 innings.
A two-time Pacific League MVP, Yamamoto also pitched a no-hitter against the Seibu Lions on June 18 last year. His fastball averaged 95 mph and topped out at 96.6 mph in Japan’s semifinal win over Mexico in the World Baseball Classic in March. He threw 20 fastballs, 19 splitters, six curveballs, six cutters and one slider in a 3 1/3 inning relief outing. Batters swung at 11 of his splitters and missed four.
Following hard-throwing sensation 21-year-old sensation Rōki Sasaki, Yamamoto gave up two runs and three hits in 3 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and two walks, allowing Alex Verdugo‘s RBI double. Yamamoto was charged with a second run when Isaac Paredes hit an RBI single off Atsuki Yuasa.
Under the MLB-NPB agreement, the posting fee will be 20% of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5% of the next $25 million and 15% of any amount over $50 million. There would be a supplemental fee of 15% of any earned bonuses, salary escalators and exercised options.
Spring has sprung, and the air is warm and thick with the scent of the Flemington roses. It is the first Tuesday in November, which means it is time to run the Melbourne Cup around the famous 3200 metre course.
We have all the details you need to pick a winner in the big one.
TAB fixed odds correct as of 8pm AEDT, 2nd November, 2025 (please visit tab.com.au for the latest).
This raider has been in good form in Ireland, but saddles up for the Cup untested in Australian conditions. Expertly trained, with form jockey Mark Zahra aboard it is expected to be one of the chances, but I’ve seen this movie before.
Last start it finished a nose second in the Cox Plate over the 2040 metres at Moonee Valley and before that finished second last in the Caulfield Stakes. With Craig Williams aboard, this is one of the threats, although it only managed ninth last year.
Last start it finished eighth in the Bendigo Cup and before that 15th in The Metrop at Randwick. Its only redeeming statistic is that it has won previously over this distance. Wouldn’t mind a bit of rain.
Finished 13th in the Caulfield Cup last start after being fifth in The Metrop at Randwick over 2400 metres. Has Blake Shinn aboard and jumps from gate No. 2, but we’ve already seen it flop twice in the Cup, finishing 11th last year.
This Japanese raider brings with it some dodgy form and climbs straight off the plane after a spell, expecting to compete in the Melbourne Cup. At its very best, on a dry track, it could well be expected to complete the course.
One of the favourites to win, it looked very promising in finishing fourth in the Caulfield Cup. Its overseas form suggests that it will eat up the 3200 metres. Should be there or there abouts and proving a nightmare for the race callers.
7. MIDDLE EARTH – TAB Odds:
$41 Form: x159x50903 Career:18: 5-3-2 Career Win%: 28 Place%: 56
Finished third in the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley over 2040 metres last start and before that was 11th in the Caulfield Cup. A query at the Cup distance, all you Lord of the Rings fans should probably just save your money.
This lightly-raced son of Frankel finished ninth in the Caulfield Cup. It has been drawn wide in barrier 22, but with master jockey James McDonald on board, should be given every chance to finish in the running.
Going around Flemington again, wearing the same number as last year, but hoping for a slightly better result than fifth. Last start it ran seventh in the Caulfield Cup, resuming after a spell. We know it can stay, and could be there at the finish.
10. FLATTEN THE CURVE – TAB Odds: $21 Form: 1x1144111x Career: 54: 11-10-5 Career Win%: 20 Place%: 48
This French raider was at least in winning form before journeying to Australia. Still, it would have been nice to see it run somewhere other than the Werribee quarantine station. Carries the brilliantly named German jockey, Thore Hammer-Hansen.
11. LAND LEGEND – TAB Odds: $61 Form: x768x39500 Career: 24: 4-2-2 Career Win%: 17 Place%: 33
Last up it beat nothing home in the Caulfield Cup and before that finished last in the Turnbull. If consistency is your thing, than this horse is for you, remembering that Knight’s Choice was in awful form last year and still won.
Last start it finished eighth in the Moonee Valley Cup and before that fourth in the Herbert Power over 2400 metres at Caulfield. The 9-year-old is expected to struggle over the 3200 metres. Ben Melham will likely watch his wife disappear into the distance.
Last start it plodded home in sixth place in the Geelong Cup, before that it finished last in The Metrop at Randwick. One to put your money on if you enjoy phrases being turned into a single word, it has little else going for it.
The Caulfield Cup winner is the early favourite to win this year’s Melbourne Cup. Jamie Melham became the first woman to ride the winner of a Caulfield Cup and she will be keen to collect the double and marital bragging rights.
Last start it ran fourth in the St Leger at Randwick over 2600 metres, and before that finished fourth again in The Metrop at the same track. Could be out of its class in the Melbourne Cup, but should enjoy the run.
Won the Moonee Valley Cup last start over 2500 metres, and was well-backed to win this race last year before finishing 12th. It doesn’t seem to enjoy winning too often, but could surprise and finish near the pointy end.
This lightly-raced Irish stayer will climb into the barriers to have its first ever race start in Australia, on the back of a 52-day spell. I’m no trainer, but every year we see imports come here untried and go home disappointed.
18. PARCHMENT PARTY – TAB Odds:
$51 Form: 922331111x Career: 22: 8-2-2 Career Win%:36 Place%: 55
This lightly-raced US stayer is also trying its luck in the Melbourne Cup without a previous start in Australia. It brings with it an added issue, back home it was only winning on the dirt tracks. It will need a very severe drought before the start.
Ran second in the Moonee Valley Cup over 2500 metres last start behind Onesmoothoperator. In the start before that, it was disappointing in The Metrop at Randwick. The connections should make the most of the big day.
This Irish former hurdler has an incredible strike rate, but once again comes to Australia for its very first start in our toughest race, on the back of a 94-day spell. This preparation might surprise, but it will take a very special horse.
Ran second in the Caulfield Cup last start, only half a length behind the winner. Before that it was disappointing in the Turnbull over 2000 metres. Should handle the extra distance and could surprise at a good price.
Ran fifth in the Caulfield Cup, just two and half lengths behind the winner. Before that it won The Metrop at Randwick over 2400 metres. There are some doubts about it being able to run the 3200 metres.
Won the Geelong Cup last start, which is generally a very good form-line race. Before Geelong, it ran second in the Bart Cummings at Flemington. Lightly weighted, it would probably prefer a bit of rain on the big day.
We often see good performances out of the lightly-weighted horses and Valiant King looks set to continue that tradition. Stormed home from the back of the field to finish third in the Caulfield Cup, it should at least be in your trifectas.
BOSTON — Bruins center Elias Lindholm will miss at least a few weeks because of a lower-body injury, coach Marco Sturm said Friday.
Lindholm was helped off the ice after a collision with Buffalo‘s Jordan Greenway in the Bruins’ 4-3 overtime victory Thursday. Lindholm, 30, has nine points (4 goals, 5 assists) in 13 games.
Marat Khusnutdinov, who scored the overtime winner against the Sabres, is set to center Boston’s top line against Carolina on Saturday. The Russian is in his first full season with Boston. He has a goal and an assist in eight games.
The Bruins also will be without defenseman Jordan Harris for at least two months after a procedure to repair a right ankle fracture. Harris was injured in a 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Monday.
The New Jersey Devils agreed to a two-year extension with goalie Jacob Markstrom on Friday, with an average annual value of $6 million.
Markstrom, 35, was entering the final year of his contract, which had the same cap hit. This move helps the Devils lock in a three-year window in which they believe their group can contend.
The Swedish-born goaltender was a massive acquisition for the Devils in June 2024 as New Jersey traded defenseman Kevin Bahl and a first-round pick to the Calgary Flames to secure its new franchise backstop and stabilize the team.
The Devils’ brain trust, including general manager Tom Fitzgerald and executive vice president of hockey operations Martin Brodeur, has loved having Markstrom in the organization. Markstrom, a big but agile goaltender at 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, has also formed a strong bond with goaltending partner Jake Allen.
The Devils are 8-3-0 before Saturday’s road game against the Los Angeles Kings. Markstrom hasn’t been his strongest, going 2-2-0 with a 5.13 goals-against average and an .830 save percentage in four appearances. He has also been sidelined briefly by injury.
However, the Devils are banking on his body of work, including his spectacular play in last year’s first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. Markstrom posted a .911 save percentage, but New Jersey, which was severely hobbled by injuries, lost to Carolina in five games.
Markstrom has finished top five in Vezina Trophy voting twice in his career and has gone 28-18-6 in the past year-plus with the Devils, including a 2.67 GAA and four shutouts in 53 games. A 2008 second-round pick of Florida, Markstrom has appeared in 538 games with the Panthers, Canucks, Flames and Devils. He has a .908 career save percentage.
The Devils sought a shorter-term deal but also wanted to capitalize on a thin goaltending market. Allen, also 35, is signed through 2030.
