Red Sox Reportedly Targeting This Starter If They Miss Out On Yoshinobu Yamamoto

It sounds like the Red Sox have a backup plan if they miss out on Yamamoto

The Boston Red Sox are heavily invested in the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes right now.

Yamamoto has met with multiple teams and will be making a decision likely in the next week or two about where he will play for the foreseeable future. The young righty has dictated much of the starting pitching free-agent market to this point in the offseason. 

Most hurlers are waiting until after Yamamoto makes his decision to make decisions of their own. Also, a handful of clubs also are waiting on the former Orix Buffaloes ace's decision before making other moves involving starters.

The Red Sox certainly are one of these clubs. Boston is in on Yamamoto and hopes to land him but hasn't added another starter yet in hopes of giving him the massive deal he will land. While this is the case, there is a chance the Red Sox won't land him and have to pivot elsewhere. 

If Boston does end up missing out on Yamamoto, one player the club reportedly is targeting is Yokohama DeNA BayStars ace Shōta Imanaga, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

"The (New York Yankees) are considering Japanese lefty Shōta Imanaga if they don’t land Yoshinobu Yamamoto, joining the (New York Mets) with interest," Heyman said. "The Red Sox, (Los Angeles Dodgers), and (Chicago Cubs) are among others looking at Imanaga, who’ll wait out the Yamamoto decision.

Imanaga may not have as big of a name as Yamamoto, but he still would be a very solid pickup and help fill Boston's biggest roster hole. The 30-year-old has shined with the BayStars and has a career 2.96 ERA in eight professional seasons.

If he could bring that level of play to the Red Sox, he immediately would be the club's No. 1 or No. 2 starter. Plus, he's going to cost significantly less than Yamamoto because he is five years older. 

Yamamoto still should be the Red Sox's top priority, but Imanaga is a very solid backup option.

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