MLB: Cardinals Likely to Have Stiff Competition Signing Japanese Prospect Shota Imanaga

(Photo : Eric Espada/Getty Images) MIAMI, FLORIDA - Shota Imanaga (#21) of Team Japan pitches in the second inning against Team USA during the World Baseball Classic Championship at loanDepot park.

Shota Imanaga of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars is one of the targets of the St. Louis Cardinals in the MLB offseason, although they may be in for some competition for the services of the Japanese pitcher.

The DeNA BayStars are reportedly planning to post Imanaga and make him available to MLB teams this offseason, one of two Japanese pitchers that will be posted, Jon Morosi of the MLB Network reported.

The other prominent name expected to be posted is Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Orix Buffaloes, someone considered to attract more attention. At least ten teams were allegedly in attendance for his start on August 23, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Imanaga is in the eighth season with Yokohama in the NPB league. He owns a 74-54 career record with a 2.96 ERA and 1,151 strikeouts in 1,104 innings, per Bleacher Report.

The fact that Imahaga will be made available to other MLB teams could force the Cardinals to broaden their options. St. Louis had already scouted the Japanese player, the starting pitcher in Japan's 3-2 win over the United States at the WBC championship game.

With the attention to be more on Yamamoto, assuming he is made available, there is no telling which MLB team would take an interest in Imahaga.

The Cardinals do have other targets in the offseason. If other teams pursue the 30-year-old southpaw pitcher, St. Louis may best revisit their other options for the starting pitcher position in case Imahaga is taken off the market.