Former DeNA head coach Yutaka Takagi provided his analysis of the team’s surprise trade on his YouTube channel on the 11th. He suggested that the trade to acquire catcher Taiki Ogata and pitcher Sho Inoue while sending catcher Yudai Yamamoto to the other side was likely driven by DeNA’s search for starting pitching. “I think DeNA, which was looking for starting pitchers, may have made this move,” Takagi said, adding that Yamamoto’s departure was a necessary sacrifice to strengthen the rotation. The deal reflects the club’s urgent need to shore up its pitching depth as the season progresses.
