MLB insider expects SF Giants to be major players for star Japanese pitcher

This offseason’s free agent pitching class is deeper than usual, which couldn’t have come at a better time for the SF Giants, who essentially need to rebuild half their pitching staff. At least two starting pitchers and probably 3-4 relievers are needed, and though the class is deep, pitching always costs a premium on the open market.

One of the most attractive free agent pitchers in the class, Tatsuya Imai is hoping to make the jump to MLB after celebrating a lot of personal success in Japan, and MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi feels that the Giants will be one of the league’s most aggressive suitors for him.

SF Giants expected to make a run at Tatsuya Imai

The Giants were, in fact, the only team Morosi listed as a possible destination for the Japanese righty. Other pitching-needy teams will surely covet him as well, though, and if the past half-decade is any indication, the Dodgers can land any talent that comes out of Japan if they decide they want them. Imai has a small frame, standing 5’11” and just over 150 pounds, but he’s similarly sized to other Japanese imports like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga who have had great success in MLB.

Imai is coming off his second straight All-Star campaign with the Seibu Lions, in which he pitched in part of a combined no-hitter and posted a 1.92 ERA with 178 strikeouts in 163+ innings. He features a pitch mix that includes a fastball that sits at 95 and can run up to as high as 99 in short bursts, as well as a slider, splitter, changeup, curveball, and sinker. He’s also still only 27, so he should have no trouble securing a long-term deal.

Imai would be a welcome addition to the Giants’ top of the rotation, likely slotting in the #2 spot between Webb and Ray. Unlike Ray, Imai would be under team control for a number of years, probably no less than six and even up to eight. Tim Britton of The Athletic predicted a contract of 8 years and $190 million for Imai, while other experts around the league anticipate something a bit closer to $150 million. Either way, that kind of long-term expense would hamstring the Giants when making other additions, especially when you also have to slap a posting fee owed to the Lions on top of that lofty figure.

If the price does go beyond the Giants’ comfort zone, ownership hasn’t given much indication that they’re willing to push the envelope that far. Chairman Greg Johnson made his latest in a series of foot-in-mouth comments at a press conference last Saturday – when asked if the Giants could sign a pitcher for $100 million or more this offseason, Johnson said, “I’d say we’re going to be very cautious about those kinds of signings.” That makes enough sense in a vacuum as pitching is always a dangerous investment, but he made things infinitely worse by adding, “You don’t win by the highest dollars. It certainly helps your odds.”

No kidding, it helps your odds. The Dodgers went on to win their second straight World Series championship that very same day. Oblivious much? Johnson’s comments only pour salt on the wound of a fanbase that has been under the Dodgers’ shadow for far too long now. They also paint a pessimistic outlook for how much leeway Posey will have to make meaningful upgrades to a team in need of a number of them. To close with some good news, though, Jon Paul Morosi does feel like the Giants will be legitimate suitors, and he knows a thing or two more than most.