Phillies interested in Japanese pitching prospect with hometown connection

When picking the right person to represent your franchise in situations like this, who better to sell Yamamoto on the backing of the Philly fans than Manuel? When he arrived, he was given little chance as the Phils manager. He was often criticized for his "aw, shucks" style and seemingly lacked the fire many Philly fans wear as a badge of honor.

However, Manuel's day-in-and-day-out demeanor (and winning) helped win the Philly faithful over, and to this day, he's still a beloved member even more than a decade since he helped the Phillies win a World Series title. Understanding the environment you're entering and the expectations that come with it can be the difference between a smooth and rocky transition. 

Being comfortable where you play is paramount for any player, but as with Yamamoto," dollars will likely do the talking. And there will be plenty of suitors if the audience for his most recent start is any indication. Per Heyman, among the teams on hand to see Yamamoto included the New York Yankees, New York Mets, the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers.