The New York Yankees and New York Mets have been linked to a second Japanese pitcher in free agency, and his contract may end up being far greater than anticipated.
Both the Yankees and the Mets have been very active in the summer, despite rumors that they would be more cautious than in previous years. Rumored talks between the Queens team and several free agents have been going on, while the Bronx Bombers have been talking to players that are available and completed the largest trade of the offseason by acquiring Juan Soto.
But in December, the two New York baseball teams were competing with one another and a few other wealthy teams for the services of young Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Sadly, the Los Angeles Dodgers emerged victorious in the competition for the three-time Nippon Professional Baseball MVP, much to the dismay of both Gotham fan groups.
Since the Yankees and Mets are both focused on starting pitching this winter, there has been a lot of conjecture regarding who they would turn their attention to after failing in their pursuit of the talented pitcher. Yamamoto’s national, Shota Imanaga, has been linked to each team in recent weeks.
To sign Shota Imanaga, the New York Yankees or New York Mets might need to spend $100 million.
Although the 30-year-old lacks Yamamoto’s promise, he has the same potential as Kodai Senga, a new addition to the Mets who was named an All-Star in his first campaign. It was anticipated that Imanaga would sign a $75 million, five-year contract, the same one that Senga signed about this time last year. But much like with Yamamoto, it might take a lot longer to land him.
Yamamoto was expected to sign a $200 million contract in November. The Dodgers signed him to a $325 million, 12-year contract last month. “On the heels of Ohtani’s heavily delayed $700 million deal and Yamamoto’s $325 million contract, executives told ESPN Imanaga is likely to reach nine figures as well,” according to a story published on Tuesday by ESPN MLB source Jeff Passan.
One has to wonder if the New York Mets may decide not to pursue Imanaga at this point, given reports that they are allegedly looking cheaply in the pitching market. When Yamamoto was offered a contract bigger than Gerrit Cole’s last month, the New York Yankees refused. It is by no means a given that they would be prepared to pay up to or more than $100 million for Imanaga, especially after inking Carlos Rodon to a massive contract in the offseason.
It is said that Imanaga will shortly begin holding meetings with teams that express interest.