Imaoka's Future

This is becoming clearer. Tigers are keen to offload the non-performing infielder. Seibu are known to be interested in him seeing him as a potential replacement for Eto who retired this season. They also want to bolster their infield. At the moment they can't talk to him but have to wait until after the 12 team tryouts in November. Once this point is passed I would expect negotiations to move rapidly though Imaoka is not keen to leave the Tigers. Maybe the change of scenery will do him good and revive what is a seriously stalled career.

Imaoka went 2-5 in the tryouts with both hits being 2 base. He picked up three walks. Whilst the previous clubs who expressed interest (Lotte and Seibu) were cool Hiroshima were very interested. The video has been sent to Nomura-kantoku and one can see him moving to the Carp. However, it means that Carp will have two chinless wonders on their team (Higashide resembles Imaoka quite disturbingly).

Carp have rejected Imaoka - he wasn't what they were after and two chinless wonders was too much. The interest is now coming from Orix - apparently Okada has not given up on him.

Would make sense for Imaoka to go to Orix. It seems to be the place for Tigers cast offs--Hamanaka, Vogelsong, Okada.

Imaoka has received an offer for next season from Lotte. This is conditional, though, on him performing well as an invitee to their February training camp.