The Phillies are reportedly still in on prized free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto, though they are not expected to win the bidding war for his services. The final price, which includes a posting fee, could exceed $300 million.
It’s a very good sign for the Phillies that Yamamoto’s camp was willing to sit down with team personnel in Los Angeles. Even if the ordeal ends in Yamamoto signing with the Dodgers, Yankees or Mets, it’s imperative that the Phillies show they are a viable landing spot for top Japanese free agents.
The Phillies’ history with Japanese players is extremely brief. The franchise has only employed two Japanese players in its history: Tadahito Iguchi and So Taguchi. Both were part of the 2008 World Series championship team.
It’s really been that long since the Phillies have had a Japanese player on the roster and it appears the Phillies are adamant about being serious players in the international free agent market for the first time in franchise history. If they do not land Yamamoto, the Phillies, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, could “enter the mix” for free agent pitchers Shōta Imanaga and Shintaro Fujinami.
Imanga, 30, is a crafty left-handed starter who has a career 3.18 ERA over eight seasons in NPB with the Yokohama Bay Stars. He’s not going to get nearly as much as Yamamoto because of his age and his lack of pure stuff, but he does project as a No. 3 or No. 4 starter. Imanga’s posting window is open until January 9.
Similar to Yamamoto, if the Phillies signed Imanga, the team would likely have to run a modified six-man rotation in 2024. Starters from NPB typically pitch once a week and require extra rest as they transition to MLB.
Fujinami, 29, spent time with the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles in 2023. He struggled badly as a starter with Oakland over his first five games and was moved to the bullpen. The Orioles traded for him at the deadline but was left off the ALDS roster. He finished his first year in MLB with a 7.18 ERA and struggled with command.
As Rob Orr of Baseball Prospectus previously mentioned, Fujinami fits the mold of the typical Phillies bullpen free agent target. The Phillies’ pitching brain trust has a history of getting the most out of high octane arms with command issues, with José Alvarado and Jeff Hoffman being the best examples. The Phillies, if they help Fujinami improve his command, could use him in a swingman starter, two-inning reliever role similar to the one Matt Strahm occupied last season.
Fujinami, who is represented by Scott Boras, is a much more realistic target for the Phillies than Imanaga. The bidding for Imanaga could reportedly reach over $100 million. Fujimani will likely sign a one-year deal.
No matter what happens this offseason, it sounds like the Phillies are focused on improving their efforts in the Asian market. Derrick Chung, who was the team’s Korean language interpreter when Hyun Soo Kim played for the Phillies in 2017, is now the team’s director of international scouting. Chung replaced longtime international scouting director Sal Agostinelli, who is now in an advisory role.
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