Additional pitching options from the Nippon Professional Baseball league the Phillies need to consider in free agency

Phillies Free Agency – In addition to superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto, there are other pitching options from the Nippon Professional Baseball league who have been posted in MLB free agency.

The Philadelphia Phillies now have three Japanese pitchers they need to take a closer look at to bolster their rotation heading into the 2024 season. 

Shota Imanaga, who plays for the Yokohama BayStars, and Naoyuki Uwasawa of the Nippon-Ham Fighters are officially posted and available to all 30 MLB teams. Both of which, will need to sign a contract by January 11, 2024 or their rights will revert back to the Nippon Professional Baseball league. 

Shota Imanaga

Imanaga, a 30-year-old left-hander, has a 2.79 ERA, with a 26.2 percent strikeout rate and a 5.9 percent walk rate since the start of the 2019 season.

Shota Imanaga ZiPS Projections for 2023:

138.2 IP | 3.44 ERA | 151 SO | 40 BB | 3.1 fWAR pic.twitter.com/UlAMLfdj0p

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) November 25, 2023

In 2023, Imanaga struck out nearly 30 percent of the hitters he faced in 148 innings and posted a 2.80 ERA. He walked just 3.8 percent of the hitters he faced. According to MLB Trade Rumors the projected contract that Imanaga could receive in states is in the ball park of a 5-year deal valued at $85 million.

Naoyuki Uwasawa

Uwasawa, a right-hander who will turn 30 in January, posted a 2.96 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 170 innings this year for the Nippon-Ham Fighters. He had two complete game shutouts this year and a career strikeout rate of 19.7 percent.

Uwasawa thrown more than 1,000 innings and has a career ERA of 3.19.

Japanese pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa has been posted and can talk to teams starting on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old had a 2.96 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 170 innings this year for the Nippon-Ham Fighters.

He had two complete game shutouts this year.

pic.twitter.com/70lcUNTlnd

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) November 27, 2023

Last Season with the Nippon-Ham Fighters:

• 170.0 IP
• 2.96 ERA
• 124 Ks
• 41 BBs
• 3.02 SO/W ratio
• 1.13 WHIP

Phillies still in pursuit of Yoshinobu Yamamoto

The Phillies are believed to be among the 11 to 14 teams interested in signing Yamamoto, who has until January 4, 2024 to get a deal one. The 25-year old Japanese superstar is looking for a contract in the $200 million range and all things considered, he appears to be worth every penny.

Yamamoto has a career record of 70-29 and posted 1.21 ERA in 2023 with a 16-6 record. He notched 169 strikeouts over 164 innings and threw his second-career no-hitter earlier in the season. 

The Phillies sent scouts to watch Yamamoto pitch several times throughout last season and earlier this month it was reported that Dave Dombrowski, with the help of Bryce Harper, were in hot pursuit of Yamamoto. 

Yuki Matsui – (Closer) 

Matsui had a dominant 1.57 ERA over 57.1 innings for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles last season. The 28-year old can be signed by MLB teams without an additional posting fee to the Eagles.

Matsui was a member of Japan’s championship team at the World Baseball Classic, though he only made one appearance during the tournament. 

Matsui has a 2.40 ERA and 236 saves, and the five-time NPB All-Star is the youngest player in league history to reach the 200-save threshold.  He has worked out of the bullpen for almost his entire career. 

If the Phillies fall short in the hunt for Josh Hader, Matsui could be a backup option in the closer role, expected to be looking for a contract in the 4-year, $10 million range. 

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