MLB executives predict Giants will sign Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai

Will this finally be the year the Giants land a star free agent from Japan? After missing out on Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki in the previous two years, San Francisco has another opportunity to land the offseason’s best international free agent.Japanese star right-hander Tatsuya Imai, arguably the best pitcher on the MLB free-agent market this winter, has been linked to the Giants on numerous occasions already this offseason. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, in an article published Wednesday, surveyed MLB executives, who gave their predictions for where this offseason’s top free agents will land. The majority of the executives polled believe Imai will land in San Francisco.Who will sign Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai?Survey says: Giants 5, New York Yankees 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 3, Chicago Cubs 2, Toronto Blue Jays 1, San Diego Padres 1“The usual suspects, plus Toronto, show up here — most of these teams have been perennial favorites for Japanese players coming over to MLB for the first time,” Rogers wrote. “These teams are among those with a leg up on the rest of the competition as they’ve put time, money and energy...