Who's gaga for Imanaga? - It's the Cubs! Cubs sign Imanaga per Heyman/Nightengale

[Bertz]

I don't love FullCountTommy but this actually does feel likely based on what we are and are not seeing out there

 

 

[Jason Ross]

Just now, Transmogrified Tiger said:

I forget where I read it, and it's likely rationalization, but given how pessimistic local media are for basically every suitor, I kinda wonder how much the 'gonna get 9 figures' messaging is agent-driven and/or includes posting fee. Maybe in practice he's ultimately sitting on Seiya-level offers in terms of total dollars?  And given how much other teams have visibly moved on or indicated that even Seiya-dollars might be a stretch, maybe the Cubs are closer to a coin flip?  Or maybe a mystery team is about to give him 5/125.

I have a feeling the "he's going to get $100m+" is accurate. There's too much smoke there for me to think it's nothing and we've seen most of the top end of the market beat pre-season projections. I could see his AAV down around pre-season projections (which had him at about $15m AAV over five) if teams add years (6/$105m gets you to $17.5m, for example, which both qualifies him for near the same AAV and $100+m, a tactic teams are doing more and more). 

My best guess based on the Cubs behavior is I wonder if they're going with a shorter contract higher AAV or maybe something more "front loaded" with opt-outs versus other teams who are likely offering those extended years to top the total dollar amount. But that's just me guessing based on what the Cubs have done recently.

[ILMindState]

38 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I don't love FullCountTommy but this actually does feel likely based on what we are and are not seeing out there

 

 

This sounds believable.  The Athletic article from the other day made it sound like the Angels were the only team that was willing to spend money on him and all the other teams were lukewarm about it.

[KCCub]

 

 

[ILMindState]

5 minutes ago, KCCub said:

 

 

So nobody really wants this guy? 

[ILMindState]

Breaking Imanaga signs with team:

Giants "Well we don't really want him"

Mets "No thanks, we just signed Manaea"

Angels "We don't really want him either"

Cubs "We'll take him if he's cheap and nobody else wants him"

Dodgers "Screw all you guys here's $150M deferred til 2030"

[ILMindState]

 

 

[Jason Ross]

Mark Feinsand has a source that says it's "all pointing to the Giants" for Imanaga. Should be noted the word "might" is used when discussing them as a favorite.

Quote

“It’s all pointing to the Giants,” the source said. “They missed out on [Shohei] Ohtani and [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto, and although Imanaga isn’t on the same level as those guys, they don’t want to miss out again.”

Source to MLB.com article

[Stratos]

My guess is Giants get him, Yanks get Snell, Cubs get Montgomery or do a trade.

[JHBulls]

Genuinely hyped up that the Cubs have seemingly gone from “Will spend the most money in free agency this winter” to “Please spend more than $0.”

[CubinNY]

15 hours ago, Stratos said:

My guess is Giants get him, Yanks get Snell, Cubs get Montgomery or do a trade.

I think a trade is much more likely. My bet is that Montgomery goes back to the Rangers.

[Rcal10]

I agree a trade is more likely. Not sure Montgomery goes to Texas, but I don’t think he comes here. 

[CubbyBlue2008]

 

[Jason Ross]

8 minutes ago, CubbyBlue2008 said:

 

5 Suitors leaves two "mystery" teams. I bet one is NY.

[KCCub]

Just now, 1908_Cubs said:

5 Suitors leaves two "mystery" teams. I bet one is NY.

Hmm I took it as the 4 listed plus 1 mystery team. You could be right that it's two. 

[squally1313]

Dodgers are most certainly involved somehow.

[ILMindState]

All the finalists have also been rumored to be longshots . Maybe there's only 1 team interested and the agent is trying to get them to bid against themselves.

[CubinNY]

1 minute ago, squally1313 said:

Dodgers are most certainly involved somehow.

has the ML roster expanded to 30 players?

[Jason Ross]

8 minutes ago, KCCub said:

Hmm I took it as the 4 listed plus 1 mystery team. You could be right that it's two. 

I took it as the Angels were not one of the 5 suitors considered they were looking "elsewhere" but that's just my interpretation of a fairly vague post. So I think we both could be right here.

[Bertz]

I'm still extremely skeptical the Red Sox pull him down given their self imposed financial woes

 

[gocubs218]

It’s hilarious to me that we are two days away from his posting deadline and clearly nobody knows anything. 

[Bertz]

 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Does Shota Imanaga exist?  Is he just a pitcher who "goes to a different school" plays in a different country?  Are you Shota Imanaga?  Am I?

[CubbyBlue2008]

We are gonna get him aren’t we?

[We Got The Whole 9]

1 hour ago, ILMindState said:

All the finalists have also been rumored to be longshots . Maybe there's only 1 team interested and the agent is trying to get them to bid against themselves.

Nobody is gaga