Brian Cashman's bumble could be good news for SF Giants in Tatsuya Imai chase

The SF Giants are looking to add pitching this offseason and one name they have been connected to is Tatsuya Imai. A minor blunder by New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman could potentially help the Giants in their pursuit.

In speaking with the media recently, Cashman listed some free agents he has had discussions with. He had a minor slip up when discussing Imai as he seemed to forget his name after saying he spoke with Scott Boras about a player and a reporter had to prompt him with Imai's name.

SF Giants may have chance at Tatsuya Imai after Cashman's blip

Admittedly, this is a minor incident and could have just been an honest mistake by Cashman where he was drawing a blank on Imai's name. Still, free agents can notice small things like that and may remember it during negotiations.

Of course, if the Yankees offer Imai a lucrative contract something tells me he will not turn them down based on a minor slight. But maybe the Giants can prove to him that they are very interested and make him feel like he is their top priority.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network has identified the Giants as a potential suitor for Imai and it is not difficult to figure out why. He has put up very impressive numbers in Japan and features a high-velocity fastball and a splitter as well as some long hair that could bring to mind a former small-framed, long-haired pitcher with electric stuff who thrived in a Giants uniform.

Of course, it would be sacrilegious to claim Imai is the next Tim Lincecum but the Giants could use a young, exciting pitcher in their rotation who would make for some very juicy matchups whenever the Giants and Dodgers squared off with one another.

Imai has been posted by his team the Seibu Lions which means he has until mid-January to sign with a team. Expect the Giants to be heavily connected to him even though he is projected to land a nine-figure contract which is the exact kind of contract that Giants chairman Greg Johnson has been wary of for pitchers.

Maybe the Giants would make an exception for Imai though given the fact that he is young and exciting and the fact he is from Japan could bring fans out to the ballpark the same way that Jung Hoo Lee has for the Giants.

The Giants are far too familiar with free agent disappointment to be very much chagrined if Imai chooses to go somewhere else, but maybe this little slip up by Cashman can help them edge out the Yankees.