Only a few weeks after acquiring right-hander Lucas Giolito, would the Boston Red Sox once again enter the free-agent starting pitching market?
Craig Breslow, the chief baseball officer for the Red Sox, has insisted that strengthening the rotation has been his top objective during the winter.
He was predicted to acquire two starters this winter, and it looks like he might be a few days away from accomplishing that goal.
“Japanese pitching star Shōta Imanaga has four teams, including the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, seriously bidding for his services with a Thursday deadline,” Bob Nightengale of USA Today said on Sunday.
Throughout 22 starts and 148 innings pitched, Imanaga recorded a 2.80 ERA, 174-to-24 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 1.05 WHIP for the Yokohama DeNa Baystars in the previous season. Over the course of eight seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball League, the 30-year-old has a lifetime 3.18 ERA.
The southpaw would improve Boston’s rotation floor and free up swingmen like Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock to become multi-inning relievers on a full-time basis.
There are certain issues with Imanaga, though. With the Green Monster of Fenway Park looming, his high flyball rate could be worrisome, and his low 90s fastball leaves something to be desired.
There are certain issues with Imanaga, though. With the Green Monster of Fenway Park looming, his high flyball rate could be worrisome, and his low 90s fastball leaves something to be desired.
Nonetheless, the Japanese celebrity is a master of trickery and manipulation. When he started in the World Baseball Classic Championship game against Team USA and struck out Paul Goldschmidt and Cedric Mullins in two innings of work, he undoubtedly shown that he belonged in Major League Baseball.