The dates may change, but the stories in baseball remain the same. As franchises find themselves in dire need of pitchers, the remaining pitchers are receiving heightened attention and scrutiny. Among them, the Samurai Japan ace Shota Imanaga remains a prime target. With teams like the New York Yankees after him, how far into free agency will Imanaga venture, especially with the looming deadline just around the corner?

The serious talks for Shota Imanaga are about to begin. With the Chicago Cubs, the San Francisco Giants, and the New York Mets in competition, can the Yankees find a way to win this race for the ace? With competition escalating, the Bombers find themselves in a fierce battle for the desired talent.

Competition intensifies for the New York Yankees with Imanaga ready to fly

Reports had started arriving since late December that Shota Imanaga would fly Stateside “after” the New Year. Alex Speier from the Boston Globe emphasized this in his recent post on X. With a January 11 deadline, Imanaga’s meetings with possible destination are beginning soon. The desperate need for a pitcher has brought the New York Yankees to the forefront of this race. 

After trading away a bunch of their pitchers, the Yankees have a giant hole in their lineup. Most of their starters have questionable forms. Even though Imanaga isn’t quick, his wicked slider surprises batters. Perhaps that’s why the Boston Red Sox and the Giants are attached to him as well. The only relief for the Bronx Bombers?

Imanaga isn’t the primary focus of these teams. The Red Sox are in the Jordan Montgomery race while the Giants are putting far more effort into signing Blake Snell to their team. With the expected deal going to $100 million, these teams might not be willing to shell out that much for their secondary choice.

Watch This Story: These Top 5 Eye-Raising MLB Contracts Will Definitely Leave You Stunned

Hearing this could sigh relief to the Yankees, but the Mets and the Cubs are the ones that can make the Imanaga sweepstakes a complicated tale for the Bombers.

The Mets and Cubs – major obstacles for the Bombers

The New York Mets’ pitching lineup is a mess. Kodai Senga remains the only source of quality for the Amazin’ Mets. As a result, Imanaga becomes highly necessary for the franchise. The presence of Senga also should theoretically prove beneficial for their Imanaga pursuit. The quicker the deadline nears, the more it will benefit the richest team in baseball. Something that the Yankees know as well.

At the same time, the Cubs are the only team to not do any business till now. On one hand, this means that they’ve failed to get their primary target, but on the other hand, it means the Cubbies currently have the most financial flexibility in the league. Could they decide to use that flexibility here? So as of now, it looks like the Yankees have an uphill battle to fight for Imanaga.

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