Report: 'It's all pointing' to SF Giants signing free-agent NPB star

A report by MLB.com's Mark Feinsand claims that an industry source informed him that the SF Giants are the favorites to land free-agent lefty Shōta Imanaga.

Another report has claimed the SF Giants are the favorites to sign posted Yokohama DeNa BayStars starting pitcher Shōta Imanaga (#12-ranked free agent). In a report by MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the insider revealed that one industry source believes the Giants will end up landing the coveted free-agent lefty.

Team Japan LHP Shota Imanaga pitches against Team USA at LoanDepot Park. (2023) / Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports

"The Giants, Red Sox, Cubs and Angels have been tabbed by sources as the finalists for Imanaga, but according to one source, San Francisco might be emerging as the favorite," Feinsand wrote. "'It’s all pointing to the Giants,' the source said. 'They missed out on [Shohei] Ohtani and [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto, and although Imanaga isn’t on the same level as those guys, they don’t want to miss out again.'”

It has remained uncertain whether the Giants would stop pursuing another top starting pitcher in free agency after trading for Robbie Ray earlier this week. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that they remained aggressive, but deleted the Tweet shortly after. Bowden reported that the Giants were involved, but were not prioritizing Imanaga. A Sankei Sports' report later countered that narrative, claiming the Giants and Angels were the "final candidates" to sign Imanaga. Either way, Imanaga's posting period sets a firm deadline on January 11th, which will lead to a resolution soon.

Imanaga, who turned 30 in September, made 22 starts atop the BayStars rotation this season. He recorded a 2.80 ERA with 174 strikeouts and just 24 walks in 148 innings pitched. This spring, before the season, he rounded out an incredible rotation with Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic that also featured Ohtani, Yamamoto, Yu Darvish, and Roki Sasaki. He allowed two runs on a pair of solo homers across six innings pitched (three appearances) with seven strikeouts and zero walks.

Imanaga was drafted by the BayStars with the first overall pick in the 2015 NPB Draft. He quickly reached the highest level of the NPB at 22. He debuted with the team in 2016 and immediately solidified himself as a key member of the starting rotation. For the first four seasons of his career, Imanaga was teammates with slugger Yoshi Tsutsugo before he headed stateside to try and find a role in MLB. Tsutsugo signed a minor-league contract with the Giants this summer and has received an invite to big-league camp.

Over his eight NPB seasons, Imanaga recorded a 3.18 ERA with 1021 strikeouts and 280 walks in 1002.2 innings pitched (165 games). It's also worth noting that Imanaga's career numbers are heavily inflated by a disastrous 2018 campaign, where he posted a 6.80 ERA and surrendered 18 home runs in 84.2 innings pitched. His career ERA in the NPB drops from 3.18 to 2.84 by omitting that lone season.

Imanaga has a four-pitch arsenal and has flashed the ability to generate whiffs with all of his offerings. The closest recent NPB to MLB statistical comp is Yusei Kikuchi, but even that seems imperfect since his arsenal has the potential to be far more overpowering and it's hard to know exactly how much weight to put in Imanaga's 2018 season. Imanaga has posted elite strikeout and walk rates but also struggled to limit home runs, a profile that would seem to benefit from playing home games at Oracle Park.

If the SF Giants land Shōta Imanaga, he would begin the season as the team's number-two starter behind ace Logan Webb. The pressure on Imanaga to be an elite arm, however, could dissipate as the season progresses and veterans like Alex Cobb and Ray return to the field from injuries.