Shota Imanaga Finalists Revealed, as Japanese Ace Race Nears Deadline

Is it getting hot in here? With a rapidly approaching deadline, the Shota Imanaga sweepstakes are heating up. When recent reports indicated that early favorites the New York Yankees had exited, one wondered who were the remaining suitors for Imanaga. Lo, behold! The answer has finally arrived. 

Shota Imanaga has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of this offseason. Hidden behind the superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Imanaga was seen as an able mid-rotation pitcher. But ‘The Throwing Philosopher’ has slowly seen his value increase. With Yamamoto already setting the market on fire, could Imanaga do the same and seal this off-season as one belonging to the Japanese superstars?

The clock ticks for the finalists in the Shota Imanaga race

Teams realize that there’s much more to the Pitching Philosopher. Gradually the interest has increased and now MLB analyst Jim Bowden has revealed the finalists for the Imanaga sweepstakes. They include – the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Angels, the Boston Red Sox, and the San Francisco Giants.

Just recently, reports had come that the Cubs had dropped out of the race. It looks like the deliberately slow process of the North Siders has sent mixed signals across the league. Still with the team yet to begin its offseason business, Imanaga looks like an apt starting point. President Jed Hoyer has already scouted Imanaga during his trip to Japan in September, so the interest is there. But the competition is huge as well.

The Angels and Giants are already engaged in a battle for Blake Snell and they’re ready to go at it again for Imanaga. The Giants already have a well-functioning lineup and a good pool of young prospects while the Halos’ need for a pitcher is more urgent. The Red Sox are on a similar boat. Though the BoSox have added Lucas Giolito, they also traded away Chris Sale. Due to this, they have no quality left-hander in their lineup. Perhaps that’s why Imanaga has their interest. But with a strict budget, the Sox’s position seems a little shaky.

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While a triple-figure contract was the best-case scenario before, could this strong pool of suitors turn it into a base value for Imanaga?

Is a triple-figure contract becoming more likely?

Jeff Passan of ESPN had predicted that Imanaga getting a $100 million contract was becoming more likely. The massive contracts of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have reset and inflated the market. This has benefited Imanaga, whose original $65-$85 million have climbed up to $100 million. 

But with most of the finalists in dire need of a pitcher, could a bidding war ensure an even bigger contract? Perhaps. This free agency has already surprised us in more than one way. A further increase in contract value could still be in store.

Read more: Shota Imanaga’s $100 Million Sweepstakes Heat Up, as Crucial Posting Deadline Nears