It seems the New York Yankees are choosing to stay safe. Given the surge in interest from the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, there is now intense competition for Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Bronx Bombers are looking for a good fallback option. Well, they may have found that option in a compatriot of Yamamoto.

Even though Yamamoto remains their prime target, with his contract increasing to above $300 million, there is a huge chance that the Bombers may not get him. This makes it all the more necessary to have a backup plan. But as it turns out, their Plan B also has many teams after him.

New York Yankees find backup for their Yoshinobu Yamamoto pursuit

When chasing the biggest free agents, it becomes imperative that teams keep their options open. The Yankees are no different. They were actively looking for strong backups. The famous insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post has revealed that they are targeting the Samurai Japan ace Shota Imanaga. But they’re not alone.

Heyman said, “The Yankees are considering Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga…joining the Mets with interest. The Red Sox, Dodgers and Cubs are among others looking at Imanaga”.

Shota Imanaga has gradually seen his market increase this offseason. The WBC winning ace is a dynamic left-handed pitcher, something that is lacking in most teams. Additionally, his costs may be lower due to him being 30, it’s understandable why Imanaga is suddenly a wanted performer across the league. The Yankees too have noticed his talent, but more than that, it’s their situation with Yamamoto that makes having a backup like Imanaga necessary.

Their primary target, Yamamoto, has two other strong suitors – the Mets and the Dodgers. Among them, the Dodgers have climbed the favorites list so quickly that there will be no surprise if Yamamoto chooses them over the Yankees. If he opts for another team, the potential financial implications could pose challenges for them.

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Yamamoto’s contract is being estimated at $300 million, but if it climbs even higher, things could get dicey for the Bronx Squad. Granted, they’re willing to break through the taxation threshold, but the penalties are increasing rapidly. How will they cope? Perhaps that’s why Imanaga looks like a safe bet, but even he has competition.

Shota Imanaga has many suitors

It’s funny that all three of Yamamoto’s top suitors consider Imanaga as their fallback option. As a result, his sweepstakes are becoming just as interesting. But they are not all, as teams like the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs are also in the race.

The Red Sox haven’t signed a major free agent in a long time. This offseason could be the one where they change that strategy. With them being linked with a variety of pitchers, could they find success with Imanaga?

It sure will be interesting to see how this saga pans out.

Read more: Yankees and Dodgers Top Yoshinobu Yamamoto Sweepstakes, as Japanese Ace?s $300 Million Decision Nears