Dodgers Rumors: Star Japanese Pitcher Shota Imanaga Officially Posted
Add another name to the free agent pool this offseason! Star Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga has officially been posted and can begin negotiating with MLB clubs. He had been linked to the Dodgers earlier this offseason and remains a solid target for the team.
LA wants to upgrade their rotation this winter, and Imanaga could be a sneaky signing for the Dodgers. He would provide them with a solid left-hander in the staff who could slot into the three or four spot.
His numbers speak for themselves, and the Dodgers may be more willing to sign someone like Imanaga to a free-agent deal rather than committing long-term money to another starter. Imanaga will likely cost much less than other top starting pitching targets this winter, but his impact could be massive.
“Imanaga started the gold medal game for Team Japan in this year’s World Baseball Classic, kicking off a year that saw him go 7-5 with a 2.66 ERA for the Yokohama BayStars. The 30-year-old has been one of the best pitchers in Japan since he broke into the Central League in 2016, posting more than a strikeout per inning throughout his career.”
Per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com
LA has a history of signing international talent, and Imanaga could be the next in line. They are also looking at Yoshinobu Yamamoto from Japan, as well as two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.
The Dodgers want to bring in a more international feel to their roster next season, and they are making it a priority. They signaled this with their hiring of Lorenzo Sciarrino to be their new senior Vice President of Global Partnerships earlier this offseason.
Imanaga is a name to watch for this winter, and signing him would make some sense. The offseason has just begun, but the Dodgers have plenty of work to do.
Photo Credit: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports
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