Amidst Mets and Yankees’ Battle for Shota Imanaga, Could the Japanese Ace’s Price Tag Eclipse $100 Million?

Shota Imanaga’s value is rapidly increasing. Gradually as the pitching market is thinning, it seems Imanaga is becoming everyone’s favorite. With teams like the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and the Chicago Cubs after him, there’s a chance that the deal could climb to a level previously unexpected.

Even though at the age of 30, Imanaga is not a young gun, his qualities are undeniable. The Samurai Japan ace has consistently shown a knack for winning in his career. This is a quality that the New York teams are seeking desperately after years of underperformance.

New York Yankees and Mets lead in the Shota Imanaga race

Shota Imanaga was always expected to be the biggest backup for the Yoshinobu Yamamoto suitors. Now the Yankees and Mets have gone all in on the ace after they failed to sign Yamamoto. With the New York franchises going head to head, clubs like the Chicago Cubs have started worrying about the rising costs of Imanaga as a recent report has indicated the contract could climb over $100 million.

A few days ago CBS Sports reported that Imanaga’s contract was expected to be over $100 million. It’s a big increase after initial reports called for a contract much below that number. But it seems the desperation of the New York Yankees and Mets is playing a part in inflating Imanaga’s price to Chicago’s worries.

The Cubs are the only team that hasn’t done any business this offseason, other than Craig Counsell’s massive signing. While they’re behind Cody Bellinger, the Cubbies also need a pitcher. Imanaga seemed like a perfect target as not only would he be cheaper but also would be right in as the ace in their lineup filled with talented prospects. But with the Mets and Yankees in the race, the North Siders lack the financial muscle to compete with them.

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At the same time, for both the NY clubs, Imanaga would be a perfect no.4 or 5 in their lineup. The question then comes – how far are the two teams willing to take this bidding?

How high can the Imanaga sweepstakes go?

The reports have already climbed from a $75-$85 million contract to a $100 million deal. While the Yankees also have Jordan Montgomery as an option, he’d be much more expensive than Imanaga. So if they fail to sign Monty, the Yankees could go even higher for Imanaga.

On the other hand, the Mets aren’t targeting many free agents. With Imanaga as their sole focus, they’re giving it their all. The team was ready to meet the Dodgers’ $325 million offer for Yamamoto. So they’d certainly be ready to match the Yankees’ number for Imanaga. It wouldn’t be surprising if the value of Imanaga’s contract increases a bit more. 

Read more: Is Dylan Cease on New York Yankees’ Target List, as the Pitching Market Narrows Amidst Latest Deals?