The hosts of “Giants Talk,” Laura Britt and Cole Kuiper, talk about the likelihood of a reunion between Matt Chapman and Bob Melvin in San Francisco following Chapman’s free agency.
Shōta Imanaga seems to be travelling to Chicago.

There are several rumours on Tuesday stating that the Japanese left-hander and the Chicago Cubs have reached an agreement. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that Imanaga will have a physical with the team on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. PT, the end of his 45-day posting window.

Imanaga’s contract is expected to last for several years, with an average yearly value of approximately $15 million, according to sources cited by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.

After eight seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, Imanaga, 30, is joining MLB. Over 1,002.2 career NPB innings, he recorded 1,021 strikeouts with a 3.18 ERA.

It is rumoured that the Giants were one of the teams showing interest in Imanaga. However, earlier on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network said that San Francisco was not a finalist for the southpaw.

The Giants have missed out on a number of key free agents this year, including fellow Japanese players Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani, including Imanaga. Ohtani and Yamamoto both signed deals with the opposing Los Angeles Dodgers.

Nonetheless, the Giants acquired Robbie Ray, the 2021 AL Cy Young winner, in exchange for the signing of Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee. Additionally, they have been connected to the remaining unsigned free agents Marcus Stroman, Matt Chapman, and Cody Bellinger.

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