A second Japanese pitcher the New York Yankees and New York Mets have been linked to in free agency could land a contract much larger than original estimates.
Despite reports that the Yankees and Mets would be more conservative this offseason than in years past, both organizations have been quite active. The Queens crew have been in rumored conversations with a bunch of free agents, while the Bronx Bombers have had discussions with available players and made the biggest trade of the offseason when they landed Juan Soto.
However, in December the two New York baseball clubs were battling each other — and several other rich franchises — for the talents of young Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Unfortunately for both fan bases in Gotham, the Los Angeles Dodgers won the chase for the three-time Nippon Professional Baseball MVP.
Since failing in their pursuit of the gifted pitcher, there has been a lot of speculation on who the Yankees and Mets could shift their focus to since both are prioritizing starting pitching this winter. One player who has been linked to each team in recent weeks is Yamamoto’s countryman Shota Imanaga.
New York Yankees or New York Mets may have to pay $100 million to sign Shota Imanaga
The 30-year-old does not have the upside of Yamamoto, but he has similar potential to recent Mets addition Kodai Senga, a player who earned All-Star honors in his debut season. Imanaga was expected to land a similar five-year, $75 million contract that Senga received this time last year. However, like Yamamoto, it could take much more to land him.
In November, Yamamoto was projected to get a contract worth around $200 million. Last month the Dodgers gave him a 12-year, $325 million pact. On Tuesday, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reported that “on the heels of Ohtani’s heavily deferred $700 million deal and Yamamoto’s $325 million contract, executives told ESPN Imanaga is likely to reach nine figures as well.”
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With the New York Mets reportedly bargain shopping in the pitching market, one has to wonder if they may now pass on pursuing Imanaga. The New York Yankees balked at giving Yamamoto a deal greater than Gerrit Cole’s last month. After signing Carlos Rodon to a huge deal last offseason, it is far from a guarantee that they would be willing to go up to, or over, $100 million for Imanaga.
Imanaga is reportedly expected to start meeting with interested teams soon.
