Though this year&#8217;s market for position players isn&#8217;t strong, there are a lot of interesting arms out there.

This is a free agent profile, where we take a look at the players on the open market this winter and whether or not they would be fits for the Blue Jays. In this article, we’re going to take a look at Shota Imanaga, a star pitcher from Japan who&#8217;s making the move to the Major Leagues. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Shota Imanaga Likely To Be Posted By Monday <a href="https://t.co/tsSAASuUk4">https://t.co/tsSAASuUk4</a> <a href="https://t.co/LivrXEXOhU">pic.twitter.com/LivrXEXOhU</a>
&mdash; MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) <a href="https://twitter.com/mlbtraderumors/status/1727357069966061959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2>Shōta Imanaga’s 2023:</h2>
The 30-year-old left-handed pitcher has been one of the best pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball over the past few years. Back in March, he started the Championship Game of the World Baseball Classic for Japan. During the regular season for the Yokohomo BayStars, Imanaga posted a 2.80 ERA across 148 innings while striking out 174 batters and walking just 24.  
Imanaga’s best season came in 2022, where he posted a 2.26 ERA in 143 2/3 innings pitched. That year also saw him strike out 23.6% of batters and walk 5.2%. For his entire NPB career, he posted a 3.18 ERA across 1002 2/3 innings pitched. He also has a 25 K% and a 6.9 BB% in his eight seasons in Japan.
Known as &#8220;The Throwing Philosopher&#8221; for his ability to keep batters off balance, Imanaga throws a fastball that sits around 94-95 miles per hour and uses a slider and splitter as his secondary pitches.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Shota Imanaga 2023 Projections (via ZiPS):
138.2 IP 3.44 ERA 3.1 fWAR 151 SO 40 BB 121 ERA+
Led the NPB in K% and Whiff% this past season, and a minor note is that he led the WBC in Stuff+. <a href="https://t.co/WYWXk5LpW5">https://t.co/WYWXk5LpW5</a> <a href="https://t.co/wqZn9Hx7WK">pic.twitter.com/wqZn9Hx7WK</a>
&mdash; Ryan Garcia (@RyanGarciaESM) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanGarciaESM/status/1727097082060927014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2>Shōta Imanaga’s contract:</h2>
We’ve looked at Jim Bowden’s contract predictions article from The Athletic in most of these Free Agent Profiles, however, he has no prediction about how much the 30-year-old lefty will make. MLB Trade Rumors, on the other hand, projects that Imanaga will make $85 million over five seasons, which is an average of $17 million per year. 
Imanaga is expected to be posted by the BayStars on Monday. That will open up a 45-day period in which Imanaga can negotiate his contract with Major League clubs. Whoever signs Imanaga will have to pay him his salary, along with a release fee equal to 20% of the contract’s first $25 million, plus 17.5% of the next $25 million, and 15% of any dollars after that. 
<h2>Is Shōta Imanaga a fit for the Blue Jays:</h2>
The Blue Jays have Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and Yusei Kikuchi pencilled in as four of the five members of their starting rotation for next season but the fifth spot is up in the air. The team has spoken like it&#8217;s Alek Manoah&#8217;s spot to lose but the 2023 Opening Day starter has also been mentioned in trade rumours this fall.
With that in mind, the Blue Jays will surely be in the mix to add some depth to their rotation. Imanaga projects as a mid-to-back rotation starter, which is exactly what the team needs right now. Signing an arm like Imanaga would make it easier to pull the trigger if the right Manoah trade appears. 
<hr />
As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.
<hr />
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold">Previously…</h2>
<ul class="mb-5 list-disc pl-8">
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-shohei-ohtani-is-this-winters-top-free-agent-despite-off-season-elbow-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Shohei Ohtani is this winter’s top free agent despite off-season elbow surgery</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-the-blue-jays-pursued-cody-bellinger-last-winter-and-likely-will-again-this-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays pursued Cody Bellinger last winter and likely will again this year</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-yoshinobu-yamamoto-finished-his-npb-career-with-one-of-the-best-starts-in-japan-series-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished his NPB career with one of the best starts in Japan Series history</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-two-time-all-star-tim-anderson-is-on-the-open-market-after-the-white-sox-declined-his-option" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Two-time All-Star Tim Anderson is on the open market after the White Sox declined his option</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-teoscar-hernandez-said-before-the-trade-deadline-that-hed-be-open-to-a-return-to-the-blue-jays" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Teoscar Hernández said before the trade deadline that he’d be open to a return to the Blue Jays</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-lourdes-gurriel-jr-is-on-the-open-market-following-his-first-all-star-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is on the open market following his first All-Star season</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-the-blue-jays-are-apparently-interested-in-outfielder-michael-a-taylor" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays are apparently interested in outfielder Michael A. Taylor</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-jorge-soler-could-give-the-blue-jays-some-much-needed-pop-in-their-lineup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger Jorge Soler could give the Blue Jays some much-needed pop in their lineup</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-jorge-soler-could-give-the-blue-jays-some-much-needed-pop-in-their-lineup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger Jorge Soler could give the Blue Jays some much-needed pop in their lineup</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-a-joey-votto-homecoming-is-a-possibility-this-winter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: A Joey Votto homecoming is a possibility this winter</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-bryce-harper-moving-to-first-base-means-rhys-hoskins-time-with-the-phillies-is-over" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Bryce Harper moving to first base means Rhys Hoskins’ time with the Phillies is over</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-jeimer-candelario-is-among-the-blue-jays-replacement-options-if-matt-chapman-doesnt-re-sign" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Jeimer Candelario is among the Blue Jays’ replacement options if Matt Chapman doesn’t re-sign</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-j-d-martinez-is-back-on-the-market-after-a-rebound-year-with-the-dodgers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger J.D. Martinez is back on the market after a rebound year with the Dodgers</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-another-slugger-is-on-the-market-as-the-brewers-non-tendered-rowdy-tellez" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Another slugger is on the market as the Brewers non-tendered Rowdy Tellez</a></li>
<li><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-blake-snell-is-just-the-seventh-pitcher-to-win-a-cy-young-in-both-leagues">Free Agent Profile: Blake Snell is just the seventh pitcher to win a Cy Young in both leagues</a></li>
<li><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-justin-turner-declined-his-player-option-after-a-successful-season-with-the-red-sox">Free Agent Profile: Justin Turner declined his player option after a successful season with the Red Sox</a></li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold" style="text-align: center;"><a class="text-accent" href="https://gml-grp.com/C.ashx?btag=a_24038b_2065c_&amp;affid=7966&amp;siteid=24038&amp;adid=2065&amp;c=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO</a></h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61491" src="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" srcset="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png 727w, https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1-300x167.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px" />

Though this year's market for position players isn't strong, there are a lot of interesting arms out there.



This is a free agent profile, where we take a look at the players on the open market this winter and whether or not they would be fits for the Blue Jays. In this article, we’re going to take a look at Shota Imanaga, a star pitcher from Japan who's making the move to the Major Leagues. 

https://twitter.com/mlbtraderumors/status/1727357069966061959
<h2>Shōta Imanaga’s 2023:</h2>
The 30-year-old left-handed pitcher has been one of the best pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball over the past few years. Back in March, he started the Championship Game of the World Baseball Classic for Japan. During the regular season for the Yokohomo BayStars, Imanaga posted a 2.80 ERA across 148 innings while striking out 174 batters and walking just 24.  

Imanaga’s best season came in 2022, where he posted a 2.26 ERA in 143 2/3 innings pitched. That year also saw him strike out 23.6% of batters and walk 5.2%. For his entire NPB career, he posted a 3.18 ERA across 1002 2/3 innings pitched. He also has a 25 K% and a 6.9 BB% in his eight seasons in Japan.

Known as "The Throwing Philosopher" for his ability to keep batters off balance, Imanaga throws a fastball that sits around 94-95 miles per hour and uses a slider and splitter as his secondary pitches.

https://twitter.com/RyanGarciaESM/status/1727097082060927014
<h2>Shōta Imanaga’s contract:</h2>
We’ve looked at Jim Bowden’s contract predictions article from The Athletic in most of these Free Agent Profiles, however, he has no prediction about how much the 30-year-old lefty will make. MLB Trade Rumors, on the other hand, projects that Imanaga will make $85 million over five seasons, which is an average of $17 million per year. 

Imanaga is expected to be posted by the BayStars on Monday. That will open up a 45-day period in which Imanaga can negotiate his contract with Major League clubs. Whoever signs Imanaga will have to pay him his salary, along with a release fee equal to 20% of the contract’s first $25 million, plus 17.5% of the next $25 million, and 15% of any dollars after that. 
<h2>Is Shōta Imanaga a fit for the Blue Jays:</h2>
The Blue Jays have Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and Yusei Kikuchi pencilled in as four of the five members of their starting rotation for next season but the fifth spot is up in the air. The team has spoken like it's Alek Manoah's spot to lose but the 2023 Opening Day starter has also been mentioned in trade rumours this fall.

With that in mind, the Blue Jays will surely be in the mix to add some depth to their rotation. Imanaga projects as a mid-to-back rotation starter, which is exactly what the team needs right now. Signing an arm like Imanaga would make it easier to pull the trigger if the right Manoah trade appears. 

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D.

<hr />

<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold">Previously…</h2>
<ul class="mb-5 list-disc pl-8">
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-shohei-ohtani-is-this-winters-top-free-agent-despite-off-season-elbow-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Shohei Ohtani is this winter’s top free agent despite off-season elbow surgery</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-the-blue-jays-pursued-cody-bellinger-last-winter-and-likely-will-again-this-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays pursued Cody Bellinger last winter and likely will again this year</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-yoshinobu-yamamoto-finished-his-npb-career-with-one-of-the-best-starts-in-japan-series-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished his NPB career with one of the best starts in Japan Series history</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-two-time-all-star-tim-anderson-is-on-the-open-market-after-the-white-sox-declined-his-option" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Two-time All-Star Tim Anderson is on the open market after the White Sox declined his option</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-teoscar-hernandez-said-before-the-trade-deadline-that-hed-be-open-to-a-return-to-the-blue-jays" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Teoscar Hernández said before the trade deadline that he’d be open to a return to the Blue Jays</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-lourdes-gurriel-jr-is-on-the-open-market-following-his-first-all-star-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is on the open market following his first All-Star season</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-the-blue-jays-are-apparently-interested-in-outfielder-michael-a-taylor" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays are apparently interested in outfielder Michael A. Taylor</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-jorge-soler-could-give-the-blue-jays-some-much-needed-pop-in-their-lineup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger Jorge Soler could give the Blue Jays some much-needed pop in their lineup</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-jorge-soler-could-give-the-blue-jays-some-much-needed-pop-in-their-lineup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger Jorge Soler could give the Blue Jays some much-needed pop in their lineup</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-a-joey-votto-homecoming-is-a-possibility-this-winter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: A Joey Votto homecoming is a possibility this winter</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-bryce-harper-moving-to-first-base-means-rhys-hoskins-time-with-the-phillies-is-over" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Bryce Harper moving to first base means Rhys Hoskins’ time with the Phillies is over</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-jeimer-candelario-is-among-the-blue-jays-replacement-options-if-matt-chapman-doesnt-re-sign" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Jeimer Candelario is among the Blue Jays’ replacement options if Matt Chapman doesn’t re-sign</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-j-d-martinez-is-back-on-the-market-after-a-rebound-year-with-the-dodgers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger J.D. Martinez is back on the market after a rebound year with the Dodgers</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-another-slugger-is-on-the-market-as-the-brewers-non-tendered-rowdy-tellez" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Another slugger is on the market as the Brewers non-tendered Rowdy Tellez</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-blake-snell-is-just-the-seventh-pitcher-to-win-a-cy-young-in-both-leagues">Free Agent Profile: Blake Snell is just the seventh pitcher to win a Cy Young in both leagues</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-justin-turner-declined-his-player-option-after-a-successful-season-with-the-red-sox">Free Agent Profile: Justin Turner declined his player option after a successful season with the Red Sox</a></li>
</ul>

<hr />

<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold" style="text-align: center;"><a class="text-accent" href="https://gml-grp.com/C.ashx?btag=a_24038b_2065c_&amp;affid=7966&amp;siteid=24038&amp;adid=2065&amp;c=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO</a></h2>
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61491" src="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" />

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