In a division where they play against some of the most potent left-handed sluggers in the league, the Atlanta Braves only have one left-handed starter in their rotation.
Coincidentally, there’s now an experienced lefty starter available who would provide some balance to the rotation.
Lefty Shota Imanaga was posted by the Yokohama Bay Stars on Monday morning, as anticipated, and he immediately rose to the top of the free agency pool. Some of you, meanwhile, might not be familiar with the Japanese lefty. Let’s examine Imanaga’s background and how he can support the Braves.
Imanaga has played for the Baystars and its JPEL affiliate of the same name for eight years. He is a veteran of the NPB. He isn’t as dominant as Yamamoto in the strike zone, but rather a lefty with good pitchability who employs a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, curve, cutter/slider, and splitter to assault hitters with strikes.
Imanaga has pitched 411 1/3 innings in 62 starts for the JPCL since 2021. He has a 2.69 ERA and 1.006 WHIP while striking out 416 (25.5%) and walking 79 (4.8%), eight of which have been intentional.
He threw to a 2.80 ERA, 1.054 WHIP, 174 strikeouts, and 24 walks in 148 innings across 22 starts in 2023. Since JPCL numbers don’t necessarily convert to MLB, allow me to do a comparison with a former player of yours. Bauer Trevor.
This season, Bauer pitched for Yokohama as well. Over the course of 19 starts, he threw to a 2.76 ERA, 3.03 RA/G, and 1.148 WHIP while striking out 130 batters and walking 31.
Imanaga’s 2022 no-hitter was examined by Brandon Tew of Sports Info Solutions, who referred to him as courageous. With 117 pitches, 77 of them strikes, he used every tool at his disposal to slice and dice the zone, giving up just four hard hit balls and causing 20 WHIFFS.
Imanaga gives the Atlanta Braves rotation a fresh perspective. He’ll be a left-handed Charlie Morton with a more deadly break in his pitches and precise control, coming in behind Strider and Fried’s raw power.
The Braves wouldn’t forfeit draft selections or international signing pool funds, in contrast to free agents who have a qualifying offer attached. Imanaga is expected to receive about $85 million over five years, or an average annual salary of $17.5 million, according to MLBTR. They would need to pay Yokohama a posting charge of $13.8 million, but it would not be deducted from CBT payroll.
At least one more starter is required for the Atlanta Braves. Elder will deteriorate, Morton is getting older, and Fried’s blister problem can flare up at any point. The prospects might help us along the way, but they’re not ready to pitch the Braves 180 innings this season, as I stated in a post a few days ago.
When Morton departs, Imanaga will already be there to take his place, helping to bridge the gap until the prospects step up. He has thrown for Japan’s national team, Yokohama, in championship games on a grand scale. The Braves give him the opportunity to join a team that consistently wins titles and get to the postseason in 2024, even if there will be competition for his services. That’s not something that everyone can say.
