Hand Row posted:

If it is 5/75, it’s really 5/90 or so with the posting fee I think. Still nothing for the Cubs but there’s risk with signing a pitcher for his 30s who has never pitched in the MLB and gives up dingers. Still would much rather sign him over the other guys in his range or the Boras guys though.

Japanese Wikipedia posted:

Imanaga’s pitching arsenal includes a fastball delivered from a three-quarter arm slot, along with sliders, changeups, and curveballs. His fastball, known for its liveliness, and in relief appearances, he has recorded a personal best speed of 95.7 mph (154 km/h) and a maximum spin rate of 2678 rpm. Since 2019, he has added a changeup (split change) in the low 80 mph range (130 km/h), taught to him by his junior colleague Toshiya Sato, and a high-speed slider that fluctuates around the mid-80 mph range (140 km/h). Additionally, he varies his changeup, including a version that reaches around the mid-80 mph range (140 km/h).

When DeNA drafted him, his pitching style drew comparisons to that of Toshiya Sugiuchi. His fastball speed improved significantly in high school, largely due to training that focused on making his scapula more flexible. By his third year, he consistently pitched fastballs in the mid-80 mph range (140 km/h).

During his university years, Imanaga’s pitching was characterized by a pattern of accumulating high strikeout counts when in peak condition and giving up hits when his stamina was depleted. In his rookie year with DeNA (2016), manager Ramirez would typically pull him from the game once his pitch count reached between 85 and 100, as part of a strategy to protect the young pitcher’s arm for the future. After a period of struggle in early June, Imanaga was temporarily demoted to the second team for rest and conditioning. He returned to the first team later in the season and continued to pitch effectively as a starter. He later expressed gratitude to Ramirez, saying that his time in the second team was crucial for his ability to pitch well in the first team.

Imanaga has also shown proficiency in hitting, recording a career batting average of .172 as of the end of the 2022 season. Notably, he achieved a .270 batting average in the 2021 season.

He has earned the nickname “The Philosophical Pitcher” from fans and the media for his distinctive expressions during interviews. His personality and approach to baseball are widely admired.

Imanaga uses Mizuno-made baseball equipment and has been a brand ambassador for Mizuno since 2017. He enjoys listening to professional baseball team songs and sometimes hums the opposing team’s theme on the mound during games as a form of self-encouragement.

Both of his parents are middle school teachers, and his older brother, who is five years his senior, is an elementary school teacher. He has an older sister who is four years his senior. His father passed away in June 2022.

Known for his love of reading, Imanaga’s first book, “Shota Imanaga’s Pitching Bible,” was announced in September 2023 for release on October 27, 2023, by Baseball Magazine Sha.

Sydin posted:

https://twitter.com/JimBowdenGM/status/1744915164476936406

lol what the gently caress?

Popete posted:

Did we just "Ozzie Albies" Shota Imanaga? Why is he this cheap?

Popete posted:

Did we just "Ozzie Albies" Shota Imanaga? Why is he this cheap?

quote:

Shōta Imanaga (今永 昇太, Imanaga Shōta, born September 1, 1993), nicknamed "The Throwing Philosopher"

Explosionface posted:

*Bursts into room, panting*

IS IT TIME TO CUBSPOST?

Canned Sunshine posted:

That’s a good point too. If he was that cheap, why wouldn’t the Dodgers or Yankees or anyone else try to sign him? They must know something.

ScottyJSno posted:

ScottyJSno posted:

[Imanaga] enjoys listening to professional baseball team songs and sometimes hums the opposing team’s theme on the mound during games as a form of self-encouragement.

anakha posted:

Phillies at the bottom? Brewers nowhere near the top? I call shenanigans.

anakha posted:

Phillies at the bottom? Brewers nowhere near the top? I call shenanigans.

FlamingLiberal posted:

The LA County DA's office is declining to file felony domestic violence charges against Julio Urias. They are still determining if he will be charged with a misdemeanor offense.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39275476/ex-dodger-julio-urias-face-felony-charges-da-says

Sydin posted:

That's low key kinda savage.

anakha posted:

Phillies at the bottom? Brewers nowhere near the top? I call shenanigans.

bawfuls posted:

would like to see the same list sorted by the last column as well

TheFlyingLlama posted:

Hard to say, because it's probably the cubs trying to pay as little as possible, but there's a non-zero chance it's Imanaga trying to guarantee that he hits free agency at 32, with 2 good years of MLB proof to go out and get the "gently caress you" contract that yamamoto was able to get this offseason

anakha posted:

Phillies at the bottom? Brewers nowhere near the top? I call shenanigans.

General Bullshit posted:

Who had a worse agent: Kenta Maeda when he came over, or whoever the hell just committed malpractice for Shota Imanaga?

Canned Sunshine posted:

That’s a good point too. If he was that cheap, why wouldn’t the Dodgers or Yankees or anyone else try to sign him? They must know something.

Darude - Adam Sandstorm posted:

Imanaga seems gives up more dingers/9 than Kikuchi did in Japan and that seems rough!

Inspector_666 posted:

Imanaga = Mervert confirmed