I don't understand that last sentence. Wasn't it the shortage of starters that pushed Houck into the rotation last year? How would signing a reliever fix that?
I think the word 'overpay' gets tossed around way too much. It's a classic armchair GM word. They don't usually pay the guy that much out of the goodness of their heart. They do it because that's what it takes to get the player to sign.
Did Yamamoto get overpaid? Most people would have to agree that his contract is pure insanity. $325 million plus a $50+ million posting fee, for a guy who has never played in MLB.
But most Sox fans probably wish it was us.
And of course, if Yamamoto underperforms, we'll all be mocking the Dodgers.
Actually if they sign Montgomery or Snell on a reasonable deal I think it will turn most people's opinions around to some degree. It would only reflect badly if the deal was a major overpay, but that seems like the remotest of possibilities.
If we insist on using the crazy numbering thing, he's a solid #2.
What's interesting is that the Rangers won the 2023 World Series on the backs of #2's in Eovaldi and Monty, while their supposed #1s, deGrom and Scherzer, were of little use.