"Yoshinobu Yamamoto is recruiting"; "Tampering at its finest" - Fans erupt as Dodgers’ WS MVP meets top free agent Munetaka Murakami over dinner

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, fresh off his World Series MVP win, was seen enjoying dinner with Munetaka Murakami. The 26-year-old free agent is expected to be one of the big at-bats in the market this offseason after being posted from the NPB.

In pictures shared on social media, the two Japanese stars could be seen enjoying dinner at a Los Angeles restaurant. Murakami is in town while his agent, Casey Close, meets with teams to discuss a potential MLB contract.

Fans on social media joked that Yamamoto was trying to lure Murakami to the Dodgers, who boast two other Japanese superstars in Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki.

Here are a few reactions:

"Yoshinobu Yamamoto is recruiting," a fan said.

"Tampering at its finest," another fan said.

Instagram reactions on the post (Source: Instagram @talkinbaseball_)

Munetaka Murakami and Yoshinobu Yamamoto shared a rivalry in the Nippon Professional Baseball League for a few years. The pair won their respective league MVPs in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022. In the latter season, Murakami won the batting Triple Crown in the Central League, while Yamamoto won the pitching Triple Crown in the Pacific League, the second of three consecutive triumphs.

The two also represented Team Japan at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where they ultimately won the gold medal after defeating Team USA in the final. Murakami hit a solo home run in that game.

Despite his offensive prowess, Murakami's strikeout rates have exponentially increased since his Triple Crown season. He had a 36.7% whiff rate and a 28.6% strikeout rate this season, numbers that could increase in MLB.

Dave Roberts makes feelings known about Yoshinobu Yamamoto's participation in World Baseball Classic

The Dodgers are almost certain to make Yoshinobu Yamamoto their Opening Day starter after he went 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA in six postseason games. His participation in the World Baseball Classic in March could be a potential risk to that proposition.

Dave Roberts acknowledged that fear on Wednesday, but stated that Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, and Shohei Ohtani will get to make their own decisions.

"We had a long season," Roberts said at an event in Tokyo. "We'll support them. But I do think that pitching, it's a lot on the body, the arm, (and) the rest would be beneficial for next year for our season.

"But we understand how important the WBC is for these individual players and for the country of Japan."

Japan is set to host the pool stage of the World Baseball Classic starting on March 5. The 35-man roster deadline is set to go out on December 3.