Giants predicted by MLB execs to beat out Dodgers for top international free agent originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Francisco Giants are in a position to spend big this offseason, specifically, with their starting rotation. While Buster Posey could look to add a catcher or other position players, the rotation is the biggest need.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLogan Webb is great, and Robbie Ray and Landen Roupp are solid options, but the Giants need another starter or two this winter with Justin Verlander on his way out.
For 16 MLB executives polled by ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the Giants were tabbed as a landing spot for multiple starters. But their most important prediction was that the Giants would beat out the Los Angeles Dodgers for top international pitcher Tatsuya Imai.
Giants predicted to beat out Dodgers for top Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai
As Rogers shared, the polled MLB executives predicted the following results: "Giants 5, Yankees 3, Dodgers 3, Cubs 2, Blue Jays 1, San Diego Padres 1."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"The Giants have been in the hunt (for a Japanese pitcher) in the past; pairing Imai with Logan Webb makes a ton of sense," said one MLB executive.
Imai is 27 years old, and he's expressed his interest in signing with a team that isn't the Dodgers, as he wants to beat Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers instead of playing with them.
The Giants, facing the Dodgers due to their NL West division ties, would be a realistic landing spot for Iami to accomplish that goal of beating the Dodgers.
More: Giants predicted to trade for 3.42 ERA All-Star starting pitcher
The eight-hander was incredible in 2025, starting 24 games and pitching to a 1.92 ERA across 163.2 innings pitched with 178 strikeouts and only six home runs, and 45 walks allowed.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdding Imai would be an incredible addition to the Giants' rotation and could be one of Posey's biggest moves since becoming a leader in the Giants front office.
The Giants have made plays for some of the top free agents in years past, and landing Imai would finally give the Giants one of the better pitchers on the open market this winter.
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