Red Sox Reportedly Scouting Top International Free Agent To Bolster Pitching Staff

The Boston Red Sox will need all the help they can get to rebuild their starting rotation.

As of now, it appears highly likely that Boston will target international players to jolt the retooling process. Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be the most prized possession on the market but he’s not the only frontline starter expected to command attention.

“The (Yokohama DeNA) BayStars plan to post Shōta Imanaga this offseason, and Major League teams generally view him as a No. 2 or 3 starter,” MLB.com’s Jon Morosi wrote Thursday. “Yakyu Cosmopolitan reported last week that 10 teams scouted Imanaga’s most recent start: the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rangers, Phillies, Cubs, Reds, D-backs, Giants and Padres.”

Imanaga has a 2.71 ERA with an elite 163-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.02 WHIP in 136 innings across 20 starts this season.

The 30-year-old will be pursued as a middle-of-the-rotation starter, something the Red Sox desperately need. As with any international free agent, Imanaga will not be subject to a qualifying offer but will require a posting fee.

The latter does not impact the luxury tax, so it should not be an issue given Red Sox ownership’s deep pockets and sudden feeling of desperation to get the club back toward their winning ways. It would be wise to take a shot on Imanaga over a similarly talented established big leaguer that would require Boston to give up draft compensation.

The veteran started over both Yu Darvish and Shohei Ohtani in the World Baseball Classic championship game against the star-studded Team USA lineup. He escaped with a win after allowing one earned run in two innings of work. He notably struck out St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt — the reigning National League MVP — and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins.