In a major disappointment of the ongoing off-season, the New York Yankees missed out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes because of a shortage of $25 million of funds. It’s not that the Bronx Bombers didn’t have the money. They chose not to add that money to the final $300 million offer as they deemed it unnecessary.
And with that, the LA Dodgers won the sweepstakes with the money they saved by deferring 97% of Shohei Ohtani’s blockbuster deal. Having said that, the Yankees’ quest for locking pitching reinforcement has only intensified since then as the Bombers continue to remain linked to several fallback options. However, it seems the franchise has had a change of plans.
Yankees Seem No Longer Interested In Shota Imanaga!
In a surprising development that has raised eyebrows across the baseball world, the New York Yankees, once linked to the coveted Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga, now appear to have shifted their interest away from the talented left-hander. Imanaga, an experienced NPB figure, transitioned into MLB during the off-season. He got posted in December, and his negotiation window will close down soon. Thus, Imanaga has sped up his negotiation schedule. Shota Imanaga, known for his impressive repertoire of pitches and success in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), had drawn attention from multiple MLB teams.
Moreover, interestingly, the Yankees were also once linked heavily to Shota Imanaga. However, as per the latest update from insider Jon Heyman, the Yanks do not love Imanaga anymore. “I don’t think the Yankees are that heavily involved in Imanaga at this point,” Heyman said. Instead, the franchise seems more inclined to add someone like Jordan Montgomery, Blake Snell, or even trade target Dylan Cease. Heyman suggests that Imanaga is not a top-tier candidate in the eyes of the Yanks’ front office. Thus, the team seems more likely to stay away from that pursuit. While the Yanks’ apparent disinterest in Shota Imanaga may come as a surprise to many, it also adds an element of unpredictability to the team’s offseason strategy. But overall, the pursuit of pitching excellence remains a paramount goal for the Bronx Bombers.
LA Dodgers In Play For Shota Imanaga!
It seems the LA Dodgers’ late entry into Shota Imanaga’s pursuit pushed the New York Yankees to drop out. As per rumors, the Dodgers remain alive in the hunt to acquire another Japanese pitcher after they landed Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a groundbreaking deal. Not only that, Imanaga is expected to bag a $100 million contract this off-season.
Needless to say, the free agent market has inflated ever since Shohei Ohtani signed a historic $700 million deal with Dodgers. The inflation is posing a threat to teams like the New York Yankees, who want to land a pitching reinforcement. But they are being put off by free agents’ steep ask. It’s only due to financial implications that the Yanks are yet to spend a dollar on free agents this off-season. However, with a significant chunk of off-season still on the cards, a prominent acquisition cannot be ruled out.
