You’re right. I will stop being quiet about the erectness of my penis.
2025-2026 offseason thread
- Thread starter Enscheff
- Start date
bravesnumberone
Well-known member
Ok...
msstate7
Well-known member
I'm a natural skeptic, so I'll say that is bc he can't play for the dodgers. Again, I wanna be wrong, but after the sports run im on (miss state football 3 years, grizzlies 2 seasons, saints 4 seasons, and braves last year), I just assume the worst
I certainly can’t stop you from making things up
bravesnumberone
Well-known member
This is not the same thing at all. As I understand it, for the majority of people who prefer signing Imai over others, the reasoning is he's younger, will be cheaper, and won't cost a draft pick. Red flag was probably too strong a term to use, but I would question why other teams wouldn't apply the same logic and be able to top what Atlanta would probably offer him while still having some money to address their other needs.
What is the smoke on Tucker? I read a month ago he was spotted at Toronto's spring training facility - and then nothing. I don't think Stearns has been shuffling the Mets roster around for nothing.
“We almost had a deal in place for a starting pitcher of Asian ethnicity, but ultimately couldn’t come to an agreement.”
bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
I would imagine there is at the very least internal statcast data on Ima and teams know if his stuff can play or not... There could be teams that think he is a ticking time bomb for injury (being a slight build).. other might think his stuff isn't that good. We just don't know.. but I, personally, would be way happier throwing a big contract to Ima versus the QO pitchers left..
So count me in on 'crossing my fingers' group.
So count me in on 'crossing my fingers' group.
Carp
Well-known member
The Red flag is that he hasn't pitched in the majors vs several pitchers who have. If you're trying to decide which FA SP you are going to give 100+ million to, it's not hard to see that Suarez and Valdez are much safer risks.
bravesnumberone
Well-known member
I would also be in the crossing my fingers group - but that's pretty much any pitcher, I guess.
UNCBlue012
Well-known member
I personally see Imai and Ranger as similar levels of risk. Ranger has obviously been a good major-league pitcher for years, but his peripherals are trending the wrong way and his velocity keeps dipping. If you could get him on a three-year deal, that’s probably a home run. However, he’s going to want five years, though, and those last two seasons could be rough.
Imai is the opposite kind of risk. He’s a relative unknown, but the stuff is legit and I fully believe he can pitch in the majors. The real question is whether he’s a high-end mid-rotation starter or a high-leverage bullpen arm. If he starts, great value. If he ends up in the bullpen, it’s a massive overpay. So you have to decide which risk profile you prefer.
For me, the Braves badly need someone who can settle into the middle of the rotation, eat innings, and still offer upside. Both guys can do that, with Suarez being the more known quantity for now, but he’s likely to cost more money and require giving up the QO pick. I’d rather take a shot on the guy who costs only money, opens up a new international market for the organization, is younger, and still has a path to being a very good pitcher.
Imai is the opposite kind of risk. He’s a relative unknown, but the stuff is legit and I fully believe he can pitch in the majors. The real question is whether he’s a high-end mid-rotation starter or a high-leverage bullpen arm. If he starts, great value. If he ends up in the bullpen, it’s a massive overpay. So you have to decide which risk profile you prefer.
For me, the Braves badly need someone who can settle into the middle of the rotation, eat innings, and still offer upside. Both guys can do that, with Suarez being the more known quantity for now, but he’s likely to cost more money and require giving up the QO pick. I’d rather take a shot on the guy who costs only money, opens up a new international market for the organization, is younger, and still has a path to being a very good pitcher.
msstate7
Well-known member
I guess he could just come out and say he doesn't wanna play for a team known to be a Japanese hotbed. Seems dumb to burn a bridge when said bridge spends big and makes you spend bigger to beat them. Seems dumb though
Some things are better left unsaid ….
UNCBlue012
Well-known member
Holy shit - Gaurav, who covers the Braves' minor-league extensively, confirms they're interested.
So your opinion is the Dodgers ruled him out, he was told this, and that’s why he said he wanted to beat them rather than play for them?
Makes total sense man.
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msstate7
Well-known member
I just went and got the quote myself...
"Of course, I’d enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki," Imai told the former Major League pitcher and two-time World Baseball Classic champion, "but winning against a team like that and becoming a world champion would be the most valuable thing in my life. If anything, I'd rather take them down."
...
This isn't how it was described here, or I misunderstood. He starts the quote by saying he'd love to play with those guys, so he's certainly open to the dodgers. I'll stand my opinion: if he were a true difference maker, the dodgers would be all over him.
bravesnumberone
Well-known member
And they would beat anyone’s price with ease.
Carp
Well-known member
The Dodgers are spending nearly a billion on their starting rotation already and they have 6 guys for 5 spots in their rotation as it is. Ohtani, Snell, Glasnow, Yamamato, Sasaki, and Sheehan. Plus River Ryan made his debut last year and is their top SP prospect.
I wouldn't put it past them to add another big ticket guy just because they can, but they clearly have other needs.