Ex-Astro faces sign-stealing backlash after ripping Yoshinobu Yamamoto's historic deal with Dodgers

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto agreed to the largest deal ever given to a pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball last week — yet he has yet to even throw an MLB pitch.

The 25-year-old right-hander and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to 12-year, $325 million deal. The Dodgers continued their wild spending spree while giving a deal that surpassed Gerrit Cole for the most money ever given to a pitcher by just $1 million.

Of course, most baseball fans in the United States had no idea who Yamamoto was when the free agency period even started. 

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Josh Reddick #22 of the Houston Astros in action against the Detroit Tigers during a spring training baseball game at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on March 9, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Astros defeated the Tigers 2-1. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

During the season, rumors swirled whether Yamamoto would even get $200 million in free agency. That alone would have been a record itself for the largest deal ever given to a Japanese player, and the largest ever to a player who had not yet played Major League Baseball.

So, former MLB outfielder Josh Reddick seemed confused as to how Yamamoto could sign such a contract.

"How do you give a guy $325 million without ever throwing a pitch in MLB," he posted on X, formerly Twitter.

When one user replied that "baseball is ruined," Reddick answered back, "I agree."

Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of Team Japan pitches during the 2023 World Baseball Classic Semifinal game against Team Mexico at loanDepot Park on Monday, March 20, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)

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