“THEY DON’T NEED ME.”: IMAI SHUTS DOWN RUMORS
Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai (Seibu Lions) has doubled down on his public stance against joining the star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers, using the club’s record signing of closer Edwin Díaz as confirmation that the reigning champions are stocked with pitching talent.
In a recent interview with the Japanese outlet Sponichi Annex, Imai firmly put an end to any speculation that he would join countrymen Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki in Los Angeles, stating:
“With the number of pitchers they already have, they don’t need me.”
This blunt remark from the 27-year-old fireballer reinforces his long-held competitive philosophy: Imai wants to be part of the team that beats the Dodgers, not joins the super-team.
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THE CONTEXT: DODGERS’ PITCHING ARSENAL
Imai’s statement came just days after the Dodgers landed Edwin Díaz on a record-breaking three-year, $69 million contract, securing the best closer on the market. This move cemented the Dodgers’ pitching dominance, even after their massive spending spree the year before.
- Rotation: Yamamoto, Sasaki, and a slew of high-upside arms like Walker Buehler and Emmet Sheehan.
- Bullpen: Now anchored by Díaz, Tanner Scott, and Alex Vesia.
Imai’s argument is simple: the Dodgers have too much pitching depth. His desire is to go to a team where he can be the clear ace and difference-maker from Day One, not a rotational depth piece.
THE CHALLENGE REMAINS: “I’D RATHER TAKE THEM DOWN”
The highly coveted pitcher, who posted a phenomenal 1.92 ERA and struck out 178 batters in the NPB last season, previously stated his motivation:
“Of course, I’d enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki, but winning against a team like that and becoming a world champion would be the most valuable thing in my life. If anything, I’d rather take them down.”
This competitive fire has made Imai a top target for Dodgers rivals, most notably the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees, both of whom desperately need frontline starting pitching to compete with Los Angeles.
With his agent, Scott Boras, confirming that Imai will visit interested teams in the U.S. soon, the bidding war is set to intensify, led by teams who now see Imai as the key weapon in their quest to topple the reigning World Series champions.
