The San Francisco Giants Are Not Pursuing Tatsuya Imai

The San Francisco Giants were expected to be one of the top teams in the mix for Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai. According to Buster Olney, a lot of their market pitching inquiries have been for more modestly priced arms — a strong indication they aren’t chasing the highest priced pitchers, like Imai. With that being said, who are the Giants chasing after this offseason?

What Will The Giants Do?

It seems the Giants will target players they can sign to short-term deals, thereby increasing the annual value. Two names that make sense are former division rivals Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. Gallen is coming off a rough season and could look to have an opt-out clause after the first year, so he could get back out on the open market in 2027.

Kelly is another intriguing option, and wouldn’t command a long-term deal as he’s entering his age-37 season. With the Diamondbacks and Rangers last season, Kelly had a 3.52 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. He has been an extremely reliable player and would fit perfectly in the Giants’ rotation. If they signed a cheaper pitcher, it could allow them to sign a bigger bat or even add to their bullpen.

The Giants can also turn to the trade market to find a top-end starter that’s cost-effective. The top name would be Freddy Peralta, and he wouldn’t cost a ton because he’s only under control for one more season. Peralta would be fun to watch with Logan Webb, who’s one of the most underrated pitchers in all of baseball. If they want to have a chance at competing against the Los Angeles Dodgers, they have to hit on the margins this season and sign players who can contribute at a high level immediately.

Imai To The Yankees Makes More Sense

With suitors for Imai starting to drop off, the New York Yankees remain the most sensible fit for the Japanese ace. The San Francisco Giants were expected to be the Yankees’ biggest competition, but it looks like New York has a clear advantage in landing Imai. Brian Cashman is going to prioritize re-entering the Japanese market, and Imai fits their needs perfectly. 

The 27-year-old ace is expected to come to the United States in the first days of December and meet with several MLB teams, per Francys Romero. His market is going to heat up fast, and he could sign in the middle of December, shortly after the Winter Meetings conclude.

It’ll be interesting to see what the Giants and Yankees do this offseason to get back atop their respective leagues. With a lot of moves already being made in November, the names are going to fly off the board in just over a week in Orlando.