Padres GM A.J. Preller reveals unexpected interest in Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai, scouting his talent and preparing for a potential stateside move.
At the MLB General Managers Meetings, San Diego Padres fans got a glimpse into the mindset of their GM, A.J. Preller. With the obvious need for starting pitching plaguing the roster, Preller provided some ease with his remarks during the meetings.
Preller told reporters that he’s been keeping an eye on a free agent starting pitcher, but not one that most would expect. Instead of aiming for an MLB-proven guy, he’s made his interest in Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai clear.
“We’ll be fully prepared when he’s posted,” Preller said on Tuesday.
It isn’t all that surprising that Preller has come out and stated his interest in the Japanese hurler, as he watched him pitch in Nippon Professional Baseball last season.
"He has a great arm, great athleticism, and can maintain his velocity,” Preller said of Imai’s talents. “His control is also improving. His continued growth demonstrates his diligence and adaptability."
Padres pitcher Yu Darvish may be pushing the deal behind the scenes, as Preller admitted that the 39-year-old has been providing him advice on Japanese talent. While Darvish will miss all of next season due to injury, he may still end up impacting the Padres' season, just in a different way than expected.
In Japan, Imai made his debut in 2017 for the Saitama Seibu Lions. He’s now played nine seasons for the NPB franchise and is ready for a stateside move. Last season for the Lions, Imai pitched 163 ⅔ innings of 1.92 ERA baseball.
While the Padres may be limited on the pitching help they can get because of their luxury tax situation, a move for Imai could pay big dividends for the club. With Darvish out and starters Dylan Cease and Michael King likely leaving in free agency, San Diego will need all the starting pitching help it can get. Perhaps Imai can provide that and more.