The Giants have shown interest in left-hander Shota Imanaga, according to a report from Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Morosi adds that Imanaga’s market is likely to come into further focus when the sweepstakes for right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto come to an end. A recent report connected Imanaga to the Yankees as a potential backup plan should they miss out on Yamamoto. The Giants are a suitor for the young right-hander themselves, though its unclear if their interest in Imanaga hinges on Yamamoto signing elsewhere or if they would consider pursuing both hurlers. The Tigers, Dodgers, Cubs, and Red Sox are among the other clubs that the lefty has been connected to in the weeks leading up to and following his posting late last month.
Imanaga would certainly be a solid fit for San Francisco headed into 2024. With veteran righty Alex Cobb set to miss the start of the season as he rehabs from hip surgery, right-handers Logan Webb and Anthony DeSclafani appear to be the club’s only surefire starting pitchers for 2024. Veteran Ross Stripling along with youngsters like Kyle Harrison and Keaton Winn could all plausibly start for the club next season, but the Giants seemingly preferred to use each in more flexible, multi-inning bulk roles last year rather than as regular members of the rotation. Adding another stable arm to pair with Webb at the front of the club’s rotation could be a sensible decision if that preference holds into next season, particularly if the Giants wind up dealing one of their young arms to address other areas on their roster.
The Giants have been among the more aggressive teams in the league over the past few offseasons but have come away with little to show for it after whiffing on top free agents such as Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, and Shohei Ohtani. Should that same fate befall the club in their pursuit of Yamamoto, pivoting to Imanaga would allow them to bulk up their starting rotation with a player who, though five years Yamamoto’s senior, has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in four of his past five NPB seasons, including each of the past three. Since the start of the 2021 season, Imanaga has posted a sterling 2.51 ERA across 467 innings of work. That strong track record has led to reports indicating that Imanaga’s price tag in free agency could surpass $100MM, though the Giants have made clear they’re more than comfortable working in the deeper end of free agency both through their pursuits of Ohtani and Yamamoto but also by signing KBO star Jung Hoo Lee to a $113MM guarantee this past week.
On the heels of a 79-83 season in 2023, San Francisco seems interest in upgrades all across their roster. Depending on exactly how much money the Giants have to spend this offseason, a pursuit of Imanaga could leave them with more room in the budget to make further additions to the club this offseason. Third baseman Matt Chapman, right-hander Yariel Rodriguez and outfielder Cody Bellinger are among the other notable free agents the club has expressed interest in this offseason, though it’s unclear if the club remains in on Cody Bellinger following their agreement with Lee.
So it’s confirmed, he won’t be going to the Giants.
Oh He is going to the Giants because they will miss out on Yamamoto
Jim Bowden has reported that the Giants and Red Sox both have offers to Yamamoto that exceed $300M.
I love how the Giants at least are making a hard go at him and at worst making another team PAY
They will miss out on him too.
Giants got Yamamoto Light/2.0/Consolation Prize.
Everyone wants to sign with the Giants
Arson Judge sighting in San Francisco
99amature…I wonder how many people mute your 5 year old comments? I’m one of them. Get lost!
Balk you’re salty
Morosi making stuff again
Only thing Morosi is making is dookie!
Giants need starting pitching, Imanga is a relief pitcher. He might be a mix in the already strong bullpen, but the need for a #1 or #2 starter is far more important at the moment.
Pete, 2 complete games last year. he’s not a reliever. In fact, he’d be just as good as any starter out there. I’ll take him over Snell for sure. And if giants don’t get Yamamoto he’d be my choice.
Bro what are u talking about??? Imanga is a starter not a relief pitcher .. lmfao wowwwwww how about u do some reading before u say something !! He’s probably a SP3 or SP4 depending on where he goes !!!
claude raymond — You are correct, my bad. I looked at stats on Baseball Reference and they didn’t show a start since 2018. But when I look closer, at the innings pitched, he’s clearly a starter.
So, yeah, I could see the Giants going after him. Maybe they go after BOTH Yamamoto and Imanga. That would be fantastic.
Relax. See my comment above to Claude Raymond.
And still nobody wants to sign with the Giants…
Except Jung-Hoo Lee, Michael Conforto, Mitch Haniger, Logan Webb and many more and those still to come.
I know you’re just a troll, but I hate muting you cause maybe some day you’ll actually contribute.
Pete’sView Logan Webb was drafted, he didn’t sign as a free agent
It’s my fault someone is taking it out on me, because he roots for a lousy team? That makes plenty of sense.
Mets might get both these guys!
They won’t.
Well since you said so.
Another move the penny pinching Padres won’t be in on.
@towinagain Pretty hilarious to see someone whining about the Padres being penny pinchers after all the money they’ve spent over the last few years.
That was last year. Team has not earned a pass. Let half the team walk. Traded a superstar and HAS SIGNED ZERO FREE-AGENTS.
Wacha and Lugo.could have been brought back on affordable deals with the supposed money saved by trading Soto.
The money saved was assumed to be reinvested in payroll but now is looking more and more like it will be pocketed.
You can’t spend like a drunken sailor every year. No one can.
Can’t?
Sell the team.
They also won’t be happy when 40 year old Machado is lined up next to 40 year old Bogearts with 40 year old Darvish on the mound
Cute. No you don’t trade those guys if you want to contend, oh wait, you’re right this ownership doesn’t want to contend.
This ownership is all about the Benjamins. Pocketing money and gutting payroll.
Padres = A’s
I don’t think the Padres would’ve traded Soto if they hadn’t been saddled with four (or whatever) no-trade contracts. Their biggest mistake, imo, was giving so many no-trade large contracts out.
If you cant afford those contracts, sell the team to someone who can.
I agree with you. It’s frustrating as a fan to see your team dismantled when, arguably, it doesn’t need to be. But, as we Yankee fans have learned perhaps more than any other fanbase, baseball is a business and most owners are satisfied with making money over winning.
The entire sport would be so much better with owners who prioritize winning, like Peter Siedler. Unfortunately, they are mainly committed to growing their accounts.
Because theirs a long line right around the corner.
Do you do your job for the money or to break even.
Anyone who works in customer service or has worked in customer service knows or is preached that the customer is priority.
That is the key to any business involving customers or patrons.
Don’t cater to customers and lose business. Lose business and go out of business.
Last time I checked, fans are essentially paying customers.
Lose your fans, lose your customers.
Find out what’s important to customers and keep your customer base.
The basics of business.
Agreed,
The Padres were a low payroll teams for years who finally took their shot and failed. They made the playoffs once in the last three years, which when a mid-market teams ups the payroll, they need better results or the bubble bursts.
If they needed to take a $50M loan during the season just to make payroll, why are you surprised that they are looking to shrink it’s spending to $200M from the $250M they spent this year?
I would be more concerned about the $57M combined that the Pads will be spending on Xander and Manny through their ago 40 seasons as a fan on the team.
If you cant afford to run a team, sell it.
I could care less if they can’t “afford” Xander or Manny.
Sell the team to someone who can.
Easily said but not so easily done.
Agreed, but it’s not that simple. The team drew 3.3M people last year, which was 3rd in the MLB. Their merch sells well too, so it effectively comes down to TV money and needing playoff success for the Pads to be a financial win. Not sure how many potential owners are lining up for that reality.
That said, there’s always some billionaire that will think they can turn the team around, so…
“the MLB”? That’s like writing “I like to play the golf.”
Huh???
How is the amount of tickets/money from ticket sales the same as “I like to play golf”?
Did you mean to respond to someone else’s post and clicked on mine accidentally?
God you pads fans are pathetic.
Sorry jt3z, I’m a Cards fan. I just enjoy commenting on this platform in general.
The San Diego Padres. LOL!
Tow is right, Siedler was the driving force behind the Padres spending. Without Peter around, ownership has limited Preller’s spending even more. Manfred didn’t like all those long contracts AJ keeps giving out.
Go for it!
Giants may actually revamp the rotation. I guess I’ll believe it when I see it but this is great news
They need to go after Snell. He’s the signing that makes the most sense to me for them.
Jordan Montgomery would make a lot of sense too, imo.
Not unless you want Barry Zito 2.0, you don’t want him.
Which one, Andrew? Snell, Imanaga, or Monty.
I like Montgomery, but not at the price he will likely command. I view him more as a solid #3 starter than a real top of the rotation guy. He doesn’t have true ace stuff like Snell does. If I’m paying big money for a SP, I want him to have elite stuff. I’d rather have Snell for $200 million than Montgomery for $150 million.
Yeah, I agree with you there for sure. Monty should not be a big-money contract – he’s not that guy.
I do think he would perform a bit better in SF than other places because that’s a place designed for his throwing style.
Clip, I feel like Snell is the guy to get, after Yamamoto. I almost would prefer Snell. What do you think of him?
Yeah, Trumbo, particularly in this environment where there seems to be a large chasm between the first and second tiers of pitching. There’s no question that Snell is talented and was a TOR guy. He walks a lot of batters, but honestly, that wouldn’t bother me because it rarely leads to runs scored. It only affects his innings count, but how many innings do normal SPs throw now anyway?
Relying on Imanaga to bolster the top of the rotation does not inspire confidence….
I would rather sign Montgomery than Snell, since Snell is attached to a rejected QO and Montgomery isn’t.
That’s a very valid point, based on which I’m guessing the Giants aren’t really in a position to lose said draft pick? I’m not good at all with the NL’s farms systems, for the most part.
Clip, The Giants have a middling farm, not bad, but if they’re open to trading from their young pitching, I’m guessing they’d want to hold on to their picks.
I don’t think most teams are happy with losing picks. I guess it depends on how highly they view the FA. Losing picks for Ohtani is a no-brainer, but it’s not so clear cut for a guy like Snell, who in addition to the lost picks, might need 7/$200M.
I’d take snell and lose the pick if it means I have snell for five years. Honestly I think Yamamoto plus is what they need. If they get snell and miss on Yamamoto, they’ll need snell and Montgomery/Imanaga or a trade for Burnes or cease. I’m not married to prospects and the giants do have upside pitching prospects right now that could be flipped for proven arms.
But do you think they will pay for Yamamoto plus? I know they have money, but not sure if Farhan will be that brazen.
They were willing to do the Ohtani deal. I’d think they feel the pressure.
I think Zaidi is adverse to paying older pitchers. The main point in favor of Yamamoto is he’s only 25. So I’d prefer a 10 year deal for him versus a 7 year deal for Snell. I’m basing that 7 years on MLBTR’s prediction. But even if you could get Snell for 5 years (doubtful), whomever signs them will be paying for their age 35 seasons. Of course every FA is a gamble, but I see spending for Yamamoto as less brazen than spending for Snell.
Getting Snell or 5 years would be great. The trouble is whether anyone can get Snell for 5 years. MLBTR predicted 7 years. The way teams are hungry for pitching, if another team can get him by adding a year or two, I think they will. Not sure I want Snell for his age 37 season.
agreed
Imo, they are not going for Snell
Yeah, plus his agent is well known for getting the extra years tracked on.
Snell would be Zito 2.0 (except for the high amount of strikeouts). I’d prefer Monty and Imanaga
Really hope this is in addition to them still in on Yammamoto, and not a fall back
Only one team can sign Yamamoto. All teams in the SP market have contingency plans.
Obviously, was just saying I hoped this isn’t a story saying they’re out. Of course the story is just as likely unfounded as it is true
I think we can stop using ‘sweepstakes’ to describe Free Agency bidding.
More like an auction then…
Imanaga has great numbers the only real disadvantage is his age. But could get him much cheaper than Yamamoto.
Saw some scouting of him on YouTube and the guy supposedly projects as an Andrew Heaney type. Strikes out a lot, but an extreme flyball pitcher who has troubles keeping it in the park.
I’ve never seen him pitch so take that for what it’s worth.
Yama is signing tomorrow. And then the cascading dominos will begin to fall. Then everyone will know where they stand.
Sign them all.
lots of money, no one to give it to because they’re right around .500. Might as well be the Angels or Mets.
Please stop with the (fill in team) is interested in (fill in player name) stories! It means nothing! I bet you can just make this stuff up and no one who be the wiser!
SFG
“Please stop with the (fill in team) is interested in (fill in player name) stories! It means nothing! ”
:looks at the name of the site:
AlonxoMourning.gif
“I wish mlb trade rumors would just stop with all these rumors and just report the facts after the fact facts.”
Is Shota going to agree only if he is given veto power over future team moves like the aging shady phony ohtani (ohtani will be the worst contract of all time and the fans will turn on him within 4 years) has with the Los Angeles mlb team?
Mlajamise, you’ve said that repeatedly. It’s getting old. Think up another argument.
Why would the fanbase turn on him at $2million a year? He will be done playing when he’s getting the real money.
The $2 million a year will help them build a winner around him for 10 years he plays but when the real money comes due and he no longer is even playing paying for that winner will be that much harder.
Smart. Some fanbase could be extremely upset when this is done. Not enough hi impact SP arms to cover the club demand
The name of the site is MLB Trade Rumors. Try to remember that.
Cards have put money into three starters already, but they should be in on Iminaga as well. None of the projected starters are lefties, and after Mikolis, Gray, Gibson and Lynn, there really isn’t a standout for the 5th spot on the roster currently.
BREAKING: “Dodgers offer Acuña extension! First of it’s kind deal! Ownership league wide is flabbergasted! Claim ‘impossible’.. Commish say’s it’s legit and will not veto! Contract is mostly deferred $”
This writer obviously doesn’t know anything about the Giants. DeSclafani is a surefire nothing. Harrison will start. Do your homework.
Yamamoto has to sign no later than Jan 4, but I think it will be this week. I think it’s the Dodgers or Red Sox.
This over Snell. ? Or they know they need at least two. I hope they actually build a roster for this season. Not a bunch of trade outs. Of course each year is different, with players, injuries, lineup changes. But continuity and defined roles is what teams should strive for. Not go against. These guys are humans. Not AI.
Dodgers are going to sign both
Very terribly written article.
Informed sources close to the team’s thinking report that he’s currently boarding a private plane headed for San Francisco along with Barbara Corcoran.
YES. Since day 1 I believed the perfect SF off-season was Lee, Yamamoto/Imanaga, and Chapman. Chapman is basically Longoria 2.0, but he’d allow them to trade guys like Davis & Schmitt to a team like Milwaukee, where JD Davis would’ve been their 3rd best hitter in 2023. Schmitt, Matos, & Davis for Willy Adames OR Davis, Matos, Schmitt, Bart, and Conforto for Burnes & Adames. Conforto would’ve been Milwaukee’s 3rd best hitter last year. Their lineup was trash, after Yelich & Contreras, Their next best hitter was a 107 OPS+ from a 37yo Carlos Santana, a 97 OPS+ from Adames, and then an 83 OPS+ from 3B Brian Anderson. Their lineup was WAY worse than SF’s and that’s saying something, but they still won 90 games. Meaning if they replaced an 87 OPS+ in the OF with maybe Conforto/Slater platoon, replaced Brian Anderson with JD Davis, and Brice Turang(63 OPS+) with Casey Schmitt, they’d be a 100 win team. Obviously Burnes & Adames helped them get there, but I believe they’d be willing to trade those 2 instead of extending both/losing them for next to nothing at the deadline as they’ll both be FA’s next offseason.
Marco Luciano could be our very own Tatis Jr, as in a SS turned RF, because it’s not like SF has produced any starting OF’s from their farm, might as well draft SS’s and convert them into OF’s.
Chapman would allow them to move on from Davis & Schmitt, as Davis+Chapman have similar offensive numbers aside from Chapman having 1/4 the amount of double plays hit into, but Chapman is worth 2.5WAR just on defense. Davis is improved, but he’s still -1.5WAR at 3B, with a +2 bat.
Chapman was a 4.5WAR guy with a 95% similar offensive numbers to Davis, but Davis was a 0.9. It’s Chapman’s glove, which very may well be the Crawford to Luciano’s Sandoval, in that Chapman’s range could keep Luciano at SS. That’d mean trading Davis/Schmitt/etc for Tommy Edman, the switch hitting super utility guy. Plays everywhere.
They have no hitters…they need offense.
andyhighroller,
SSs have a ton more value than outfielders. SD moved Tatis to RF because he wasn’t very good defensively, and they had better options on the IF. If Luciano develops into a good SS it would be a waste to move him to RF.
You conveniently left the financial aspect out of your case for Chapman. MLBTR predicts 6/$150M. That makes his deal even worse than Longoria’s. Chapman will probably make 5x what Davis will be paid. I agree Chapman would be an upgrade over Davis, but paying him $25M for his age 35 and 36 seasons holds zero appeal for me.
Actually the Brewers won 92 games not 90. Most of your trade proposals seem to be more quantity for quality. Davis and Conforto, each a year from free-agency, don’t have much surplus value. They probably want guys with more team control. And it’s doubtful that teams think very highly of Schmitt after his poor 2023 season. Why would they want to replace Turang’s 62 OPS+ with Schmitt’s 60? The Brewers weren’t good with the bats last season, but other than Davis, I doubt they see those guys as much of an improvement.
Also, not sure how Davis and Conforto could both equal the Brewers 3rd best hitter when they did not have the same numbers.
If he wants to win LA.
I inagine they all are interested but only a large market will be able to afford him with this fouled up system.