Which teams stand out in the chase for Shōta Imanaga?

There's never a dull moment in Major League Baseball. This winter season is no exception, with clubs and players' moves keeping us on the edge of our seats. But among all the post-Yamamoto buzz, one name stands out: Shōta Imanaga. This Japanese left-handed pitcher's posting window is closing soon, leaving him with a ticking clock to strike a deal with an MLB club. He has till January 11 to join a team and finalize the paperwork.

A closer look at Shota Imanaga and his MLB potential 

Imanaga, while not quite in the same league as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, is a highly accomplished pitcher. His eight NPB seasons saw him amass a 2.96 ERA and two All-Star Game appearances.

Imanaga's Pitching Arsenal

Imanaga's pitching arsenal is quite impressive. His fastball, his primary offering, is celebrated for its innate "rising" action. This has led many to believe he will fit well in the MLB, where teams have shown a preference for pitchers capable of elevating their fastballs.

To mix things up, Imanaga often turns to his low-80s slider. This pitch generated almost 40% whiffs last season. If that percentage were to translate to MLB, it would place him among the top 10 left-handed starters in terms of sliders thrown.

There's also additional potential in Imanaga's split-change, which resulted in a nearly 50% whiff rate during the 2023 season.

Imanaga's career statistics are a testament to his pitching prowess. His win-loss percentage stands at .574 over eight seasons. He has an ERA of 2.96, with an impressive 9.43 strikeout-to-walk ratio. These numbers position Imanaga as a strong mid-rotation starter in the MLB.