The San Francisco Giants are in the market for a frontline starter this offseason, and with Justin Verlander departing in free agency, the need is more pressing than ever. Logan Webb continues to anchor the rotation, and Robbie Ray brings proven upside when healthy, but beyond that, the depth just isn’t where it needs to be for a team trying to keep pace in a competitive NL West. Enter Tatsuya Imai - a name that’s quickly gaining steam as a potential game-changer for the Giants.
Imai, one of Japan’s top arms, has made it clear: he doesn’t want to join the star-studded Japanese contingent in Los Angeles. He wants to beat them.
That’s not just a bold statement - it’s the kind of mentality that fits right into a rivalry as heated as Giants-Dodgers. And for a San Francisco team that’s been on the outside looking in when it comes to signing big-name Japanese talent, Imai might finally be the right fit at the right time.
Let’s be honest - the Giants have swung and missed before. They pursued Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki, only to watch all three land with the Dodgers.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for any franchise, let alone one with championship pedigree and a fanbase hungry for October baseball again. But Imai offers a rare opportunity to flip the script.
He’s not just a consolation prize - he’s the real deal. In 2025, Imai was dominant in NPB, posting a 1.92 ERA across 24 starts.
He racked up 178 strikeouts in 163.2 innings while allowing just six home runs. That kind of production doesn’t just translate - it travels.
And for a Giants team that needs more than just innings eaters behind Webb and Ray, Imai could be the high-impact arm that elevates the entire rotation.
What makes this pairing even more intriguing is Imai’s stated desire to compete against the Dodgers, not join them. That’s a rare mindset in today’s game, where superteams and star-stacking often take precedence over rivalries.
Imai wants to challenge the best - not ride shotgun. And if you’re the Giants, that’s music to your ears.
Looking around the division, the timing feels right. The Padres appear to be heading toward a reset, the Rockies remain in a rebuild, and while the Diamondbacks have talent, they’re not quite ready to push the Dodgers for division supremacy. That leaves the Giants as the most logical threat - especially if they can add a pitcher like Imai to the mix.
Offensively, San Francisco has the pieces in place to compete. The lineup has power, versatility, and enough depth to hang with the league’s best.
But to truly contend, especially in October, it always comes back to pitching. Adding Imai would give the Giants a formidable top three in Webb, Ray, and Imai - a trio capable of matching up with just about any rotation in the National League.
Sure, signing Imai won’t be cheap. Top international arms rarely are.
But this isn’t just about dollars - it’s about direction. It's about sending a message to the rest of the league - and especially to the Dodgers - that the Giants aren’t just chasing the pack.
They’re building to beat them.
If San Francisco can close the deal, they won’t just be adding talent. They’ll be adding fire, purpose, and a pitcher who’s not just trying to succeed in MLB - he’s trying to take down the best. That’s the kind of edge this rivalry, and this rotation, could use.