The stage is set; the excitement is palpable, and the countdown has begun. The free agency of Shota Imanaga has had more turns than his famous slider, with teams are exiting, re-entering, and suddenly becoming favorites. As the rumors swirl and whispers grow louder, “it’s all pointing” to this team for the latter case. Will they “miss out again”?

While the San Francisco Giants have been in the Imanaga sweepstakes for a long time, it is only now that things are starting to shape up for the Bay Bombers. With the deadline fast approaching, the Giants as well as others are in a race against time. Will the Giants remain in the lead or is there a chance for someone else to catch up?

Bay Area calls for Shota Imanaga and he seems intrigued

Shota Imanaga’s free agency has every baseball fan’s interest. While the Chicago Cubs, the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels also possible favorites, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com recently revealed his sources’ belief in the Giants. “It’s all pointing to the Giants. They missed out on [Shohei] Ohtani and [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto, and… they don’t want to miss out again.” 

With star pitchers like Alex Cobb out till June, the Giants need a powerful hand in their lineup. Imanaga could prove to be just that. Even though his fastballs seldom cross 95mph, there’s much more to his arsenal. A wicked slider and a variety of pitches make him an ideal pitcher for the Oracle park. 

The Giants have already signed Lee Jung-Hoo to a $113 million contract this offseason. While estimates for Imanaga go from $75 to $100 million, the Bay Bombers are interested enough to splash that amount for a 30-year-old. Especially after losing out on multiple major free agents in the past two years.

Watch This Story: These Top 5 Eye-Raising MLB Contracts Will Definitely Leave You Stunned

But with a January 11 deadline, things could get tough for the Giants. With other teams still in the mix for Imanaga, can the Giants overcome their competition?

With a nearing Deadline – How is the competition shaping up?

It’s looking increasingly likely that we’ll see Imanaga’s free agency go right down to the wire. Other than the Giants, it’s the Angels who need a pitcher desperately. The Halos haven’t made any major splash in the market yet and their payroll is fairly under control, so if they play their cards right, things could turn in Anaheim’s favor.

While the Chicago Cubs too can end their offseason drought by signing Imanaga. The team missed out on the playoffs by just one game last season, a minor investment could push them over the line. That could be the reason enough for the North Siders to go all-in on the pitcher. Looks like the Bay Area has a lot to worry about between now and Thursday.

Read more: Mets to Exit Shota Imanaga Sweepstakes? Latest $28 Million Deal Solves Queens Teams’ Pitching Needs