It’s going to be fascinating to see where three-time NPB All-Star Tatsuya Imai decides to sign in MLB free agency. Coming off an 81-81 season, the San Francisco Giants are absolutely in play as they look to beef up their roster.
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report believes that the Giants are going to be the team that lands the 27-year-old pitcher.
In Kelly’s article, he explains that, “Even if his size scares some teams off, his pitch repertoire—and a desire to try to cut into the advantage the Dodgers have created by cornering the market for elite Japanese talent—will make him a popular target for pitching-needy contenders this offseason.”
It’s a good starting point from Kelly, but there’s so much more to dive into regarding whether the Giants would be the best fit for Imai and what fans should expect from him going forward.
More MLB Content From TWSN
The Dream Free Agent Signing For Every MLB Team
No, The Los Angeles Dodgers Aren’t Ruining Baseball
The Los Angeles Dodgers Are The Greatest Dynasty Of The Last 10 Years
Tatsuya Imai Predicted to Sign With The San Francisco Giants
Imai is a right-handed pitcher from the Saitama Seibu Lions who measures in at 5’11″ and 154 lbs. While Kelly talked about size being a concern for some MLB teams, it has yet to stop Imai.
Last season, Imai had a 10-5 record and a ridiculous 1.92 ERA. Imai also had a K/9 mark of 9.8 and a 0.892 WHIP. All through 163.2 innings.
It’s not as if this is just a one-time thing for Imai, either. In 2024, Imai had a 10-8 record to go along with a 2.34 ERA. On top of that, his K/9 mark was 9.7, and his WHIP was 1.165.
Based on what we’ve seen as of late, it seems like Imai is only getting better at this point and really hitting his stride. If you’re an MLB team evaluating Imai, it’s hard not to fall in love with what he brings to the table.
Does Tatsuya Imai Fit With The San Francisco Giants?
There’s little doubt that Imai can be a good pitcher in the MLB. Outside of durability concerns due to his size, Imai projects to be a top talent.
The question is whether the Giants are going to be willing to pay up for Imai, given their roster. The answer to that question should be yes.
The Giants have hovered around the .500 mark for four years now, and they need someone to help them break through. That someone could be Imai.
Last year, the Giants’ starting pitching wasn’t great by any means. On the year, the Giants had the 17th-best ERA in the MLB at 4.10.
Right now, Fangraphs has Kai-Wei Teng as the Giants’ 4th starter next year. Going from Teng to Imai would be a massive upgrade for this rotation.
Although Teng has only pitched in 12 games, there’s little sign of hope. Over that span, Teng has a combined -0.8 WAR, 2-4 record, and a 7.30 ERA. Teng is 26 years old, so it’s not as if he’s significantly younger than Imai either.
Tatsuya Imai Stats
Overall, Imai has some really strong stats over his eight years in the NPB. Over that span, Imai has a 58-45 record, a 3.15 ERA, and a 1.267 WHIP.
All things considered, this landing spot brought up by Kelly makes a ton of sense. It’s not going to be easy, but the San Francisco Giants should absolutely target Tatsuya Imai in MLB free agency.