Star Japanese pitcher Yamamoto Yoshinobu became a free agent on Tuesday. He is now able to start negotiations with US Major League Baseball teams.

Yamamoto is 25 years old and has been a starting pitcher with the Orix Buffaloes. Over the past three seasons, he has dominated the Japanese professional league, leading all pitchers in each of those years in wins, strikeouts and earned run average.

US teams are competing to sign him in a deal that could be as high 200 million dollars. Some say he is the second best free agent available this offseason after his fellow Japanese star, Ohtani Shohei.

Yamamoto is currently in the US to listen to offers and has 45 days to sign a contract. His agent, Joel Wolfe, said he has already fielded calls from as many as half of the 30 MLB teams. He added that Yamamoto is "by far the player with the most interested teams" he has ever seen at the beginning of free agency.

Lars Nootbaar was teammates with Yamamoto when they both played for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He said he has been in touch with the pitcher and knows he faces a life-changing decision. He added that he does not want to persuade him one way or another -- but is willing to tell Yamamoto anything he wants to know about signing with his team, the St. Louis Cardinals.