Blue Jays 2025 free agent target: Shota Imanaga

Imanaga was one of the top pitchers in NPB before transitioning to MLB. Similar to fellow Blue Jay Kevin Gausman, Imanaga’s second-best pitch is his splitter, which generates a high volume of ground balls. Despite a slight regression this season, he still holds a career 3.28 ERA, which would comfortably stabilize most MLB rotations. He also features a sweeper that held batters to a .153 average last season. While he does have a curveball, slider, and sinker in his repertoire, those pitches are used far less frequently, and he has dropped the changeup that appeared in his arsenal during 2024.

However, Imanaga does struggle with the long ball. He allowed the second-most home runs in the National League last season (31). For reference, the most allowed by any Blue Jays pitcher last year was Berrios, who gave up 26. While the home run issue stands out, Imanaga counters it with excellent control — his 0.99 WHIP was among the lowest in the league, comparable to Yoshinobu Yamamoto (a name Blue Jays fans know all too well). His second half was also concerning, as he posted a 4.70 ERA and surrendered 20 of his 31 home runs between July and September.

Does Imanaga fit on the Blue Jays roster?

Signing Imanaga would give the Blue Jays a potential mid-rotation upgrade, but the organization must be cautious.

He would be pitching in one of the most home-run-friendly ballparks in baseball at the Rogers Centre, and the Jays already have some issues with keeping the ball from riding over the fence as it is. Pete Walker has had success refining pitchers — Robbie Ray and Yusei Kikuchi being two notable examples — and could help Imanaga adjust.

Contract projections have him landing around $18 million per year, which would likely make him one of the top three highest-paid starters in the rotation, slotting behind Gausman and Berrios. He will be tied to a qualifying offer.