MLB executives predict Giants will sign Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Will this finally be the year the Giants land a star free agent from Japan?
After missing out on Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki in the previous two years, San Francisco has another opportunity to land the offseason’s best international free agent.
Japanese star right-hander Tatsuya Imai, arguably the best pitcher on the MLB free-agent market this winter, has been linked to the Giants on numerous occasions already this offseason.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, in an article published Wednesday, surveyed MLB executives, who gave their predictions for where this offseason’s top free agents will land. The majority of the executives polled believe Imai will land in San Francisco.
Who will sign Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai?
Survey says: Giants 5, New York Yankees 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 3, Chicago Cubs 2, Toronto Blue Jays 1, San Diego Padres 1
“The usual suspects, plus Toronto, show up here — most of these teams have been perennial favorites for Japanese players coming over to MLB for the first time,” Rogers wrote. “These teams are among those with a leg up on the rest of the competition as they’ve put time, money and energy into recruiting in Japan. At 27 years old, Imai is the right age for a multiyear deal and should benefit from the success of others from Japan that came before him.”
While the Dodgers, with Ohtani, Yamamoto and Sasaki already on their roster, could be viewed as the most likely destination for Imai, the pitcher recently stated that his preference is to play against — and beat — his fellow countrymen in the big leagues.
San Francisco has wanted to establish itself as a prime destination for international free agents, and while it has had recent success recruiting young prospects from South America and everyday MLB players from South Korea, like outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, it has yet to land a major Japanese free agent.
“The Giants have been in the hunt [for a Japanese pitcher] in the past; pairing Imai with Logan Webb makes a ton of sense,” one executive told ESPN.
The 27-year-old Imai posted a 10-5 record with a 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts to 45 walks in 163 2/3 innings pitched for the Saitama Seibu Lions in the Nippon Professional Baseball league last season.
Imai officially was posted on Nov. 18, opening his 45-day signing window, and has until Jan. 2 to join an MLB team.
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