Fantastic Move: The Orioles appear to be nearing an agreement, a Top-notch free agent timeline is revealed to the team.

Everyone’s pursuit of Yoshinobu Yamamoto may benefit the Baltimore Orioles, especially if the Orioles aren’t interested.

Whether the Baltimore Orioles are interested in Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto or not, they know how long the process will take.

According to SNY, his agent, Joel Wolfe, will arrange up Zoom sessions or phone calls with prospective teams looking to sign Yamamoto, who might fetch a contract worth more than $200 million.

If the Orioles are interested, they will be included in the phone calls.

If they aren’t, Yamamoto’s aggressive deadline to close a deal could benefit the Orioles as well.

The teams considered finalists to sign him will not have the opportunity to meet with him in person until the winter meetings conclude on December 7 in Nashville.

Wolfe did this on purpose, most likely to boost the market for the 25-year-old and his contract. Yamamoto needs an agreement by January 4 or he will be forced to return to his Japanese squad, the Orix Buffaloes.

Here’s how that could help the Orioles, if they’re out on Yamamoto. The teams that are finalists may choose to remain patient and pursue their top target.