MLB Rumors: Shōta Imanaga Contract Not Eyed by Yankees Due to Flyball Concerns

After missing out on signing former Japanese league star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the New York Yankees are reportedly not considering replacing him with countryman Shōta Imanaga.

The Yankees have "no interest" in Imanaga because they consider him to be "a flyball pitcher who wouldn't be a fit for Yankee Stadium," according to NJ.com's Randy Miller.

Miller's comment echoes a recent report from the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

Imanaga posted a 2.80 ERA and struck out 132 batters over 148 innings in 22 appearances for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars last season.

He also gave up 17 home runs, a concern for a team that plays in the stadium ranked 10th in home runs and 15th in fly balls last season.

Only 35 percent of Imanaga's pitches last season were labeled as ground balls, a rate that would have ranked him among the bottom five of similarly qualified MLB pitchers had he been playing in North America, according to CBS Sports' R.J. Anderson.

Although Yankee Stadium ranked as one of the league's most pitcher-friendly parks in 2023, that's because it has the lowest line ball and ground ball park factors in the MLB, according to Forbes' Tony Blengino.

On the other hand, Imanaga is a left-handed pitcher, something the Yankees consider "a plus," according to Heyman.

Imanaga could also be more affordable than other options the Yankees have reportedly pursued in free agency. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand projected a five-year, $75 million deal for the 30-year-old pitcher.

Even if the Yankees are not interested in Imanaga, the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Chicago Cubs are among the teams who have been connected to the pitcher.

Whichever teams wants to sign him will have to act soon, as the Japanese southpaw's free agency window expires Jan. 11.

Urgency is meanwhile increasing for the Yankees in their search for starting pitching help.

Miller reports team leadership was "shocked" by Yamamoto rejecting the Yankees' $300 million, 10-year offer in order to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, and that they now expect free agent Jordan Montgomery to return to the Texas Rangers instead of considering a move.

One Yankees team source is now predicting the team could "get shut out altogether" from signing a pitcher in this winter's free agency, according to Miller.