Tarik Skubal is clearly the leading player available in free agency and has a realistic opportunity to establish new contract records for a pitcher.

His decision could dictate the pace of the entire offseason.

Teams pursuing other starters may wait for Skubal to select his destination before spending elsewhere. His eventual contract could also influence negotiations involving several other prominent free agents.

The Los Angeles Dodgers would have a significant rotation opening to fill should Skubal sign with another team.

Left-hander Shota Imanaga represents an appealing alternative who could join Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki in the starting rotation.

Imanaga went 11-10 with a 3.77 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 174.1 innings over 32 starts in 2026.

He struggled during the postseason, going 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 6.2 innings over two appearances (one start).

Imanaga has surrendered home runs at a historic rate during his MLB career. Although he has largely overcome that issue, it will undoubtedly represent the greatest concern surrounding him in free agency.

The left-hander exceeded 170 innings for the second time in three seasons in 2026. He also produced impressive chase, whiff, strikeout and walk rates, demonstrating the considerable upside Chicago Cubs fans have witnessed.

When Imanaga commands his pitches effectively, he can become nearly unhittable. However, his difficulty preventing home runs has limited him and could affect his market.

Imanaga surrendered a career-high 35 home runs in 2026 after allowing 31 in 2025 and 27 in 2024. The fact that his total has increased every season creates legitimate concern.

The Dodgers also offer a cultural and roster fit that few organizations can match. Los Angeles already features Japanese stars Ohtani, Yamamoto and Sasaki.

Having established Japanese teammates, language support and a substantial Japanese fan base could carry considerable importance for Imanaga after spending his entire MLB career in Chicago. The same applies for his Cubs teammate Seiya Suzuki.

Los Angeles would not need him to reproduce everything Skubal provides. Imanaga could instead offer an established left-hander capable of handling a substantial workload while missing bats and limiting walks.

His command would complement a rotation already filled with dominant repertoires. Imanaga can create favorable counts, persuade hitters to chase and complete at-bats without providing unnecessary opportunities through poor control.

His availability would also carry value for a team that has repeatedly needed starting depth because of injuries and workload restrictions.

The home run problem remains impossible to dismiss. The Dodgers would need to determine whether changes to his pitch selection, sequencing or location could reduce the damage created when hitters make contact.

Imanaga does not offer Skubal’s complete profile, but his command, workload and possible comfort within Los Angeles’ Japanese presence could make him a compelling alternative.