Also adding intrigue to a pivotal Dodgers season is the arrival of Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, whom they signed to a 12-year, $325 million to win a sweepstakes also involving the deep-pocketed Yankees and Mets.

The total value of the 25-year-old Yamamoto’s deal is the most ever for an MLB pitcher, exceeding the contract Gerrit Cole signed with the Yankees four years ago by $1 million.

Yamamoto struggled throughout spring training and was even worse in his MLB debut, surrendering five runs in only one inning during a loss to the Padres in Seoul.

NL slugfest

The Dodgers’ offseason spending spree — which also included trading for and extending pitcher Tyler Glasnow — bolstered last year’s 100-win team, yet they still face considerable competition at the top of the NL.

That’s because the Braves, fresh off a 104-win campaign, bring back the same All-Star core, plus a big-name reclamation project in the oft-injured Chris Sale, who looked like his old strikeout-machine self during an encouraging spring.

The Phillies, meanwhile, hope to finally finish off a playoff run after trips to the World Series and NLCS the last two years. A healthy season from Bryce Harper — now a full-time first baseman and 16 months removed from elbow surgery — would help.

Union unrest

Hanging over opening day is an unresolved spat within the MLBPA in which some members want to remove deputy director Bruce Meyer after a slow-moving free agency that ended with multiple stars taking short-term deals.

Some supported Harry Marino, a 33-year-old lawyer who helped organize the minor league players’ unionization, though the union’s executive subcommittee has since seemed to reject him.

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