Shota Imanaga, 30, who is seeking to advance to the Major League through posting, is seeing his value soar. According to his agent, 10 Major League teams have expressed their intention to recruit him. It is not just an offer, but conditions of the contract are good. It is a multi-year contract worth 16 million U.S. dollars in average annual salary.
Up until a month ago, an average annual salary of 10 million dollars and a total of 40 million to 50 million dollars for four to five years were forecast, but the amount went up. Not only the “super ace” Yoshinobu Yamamoto (25), but also the value of starting pitchers overall soared.
If annual salary of 16 million U.S. dollars is based on five years, the total amount of 80 million dollars is about 105 billion won. The deal exceeds 75 million dollars that Senga Godai (30) signed with the New York Mets for five years last winter.
Some U.S. media reported that a total of up to $100 million is possible. 토토사이트
Imanaga received 140 million yen (about 1.25 billion won) in annual salary from the Yokohama BayStars this year. If he signs the contract for 16 million dollars, his annual salary will increase by 20.8 billion won.
Some experts rated him as a mid-season pitcher in the Major League, but the situation changed significantly.
Two other Japanese pitchers besides Imanaga and Yamamoto are seeking to move to the Major League. Matsui Yuki (28), the former Save King, and Naoyuki Wusawa (29), the starting pitcher, are also visiting their teams.
Yamamoto’s agent told the Japanese media, “It is difficult to get a result as soon as we start negotiations. The situation.”
He was selected as the No. 1 draft pick in 2016. During his eight seasons with Yokohama, he played 165 games (158 starts), posting 64 wins, 50 losses, and 4 holds with an ERA of 3.18. This year, he pitched seven wins, four losses, with an ERA of 2.80, twice in 22 games. He struck out 174 in 148 innings, ranking first in the Central League category. He ranks first in strikeouts in both leagues, beating Yamamoto (169) of the Pacific League.
Imanaga played for Japan at the WBC in March and was recognized for his international competitiveness. In the match against Korea in the group league, he pitched in the fourth inning after starting pitcher Yu Darvish (San Diego) and allowed one run in three innings. He started the final match against the U.S.
During this season, the Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Mets checked Imanaga.