The report is true: Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai has indeed sent a clear message to Major League Baseball that he is not interested in joining the Los Angeles Dodgers’ “superteam.”1 His competitive spirit has framed his free agency as a high-stakes challenge, immediately putting teams like the Chicago Cubs in the spotlight.2
The “Ultimatum”: Imai’s Defiant Stance
In a televised interview, Imai made his intentions clear, declaring he prefers the challenge of competition over the comfort of camaraderie:3
“Of course, I’d enjoy playing alongside [Shohei] Ohtani, [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto, and [Roki] 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.”
He also revealed a secondary preference: he wants to “experience that sense of survival” and overcome cultural differences on his own, suggesting a preference to sign with a team that does not already have a Japanese player.4 (The Cubs currently have Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki).5
The Golden Opportunity for the Cubs
Imai’s statement is a “golden opportunity” for the Cubs because it instantly eliminates the two clear favorites for any top Japanese free agent:
Dodgers (Eliminated): Imai’s personal competitive goal is to beat the three Japanese aces in L.A.6
Giants (Reportedly Out): Rumors indicate the Giants are pulling out of the high-end pitching market due to financial considerations.7
This leaves the Cubs, who are openly hunting for an ace to pair with Imanaga and Cade Horton, as one of the top landing spots, alongside teams like the Padres and Blue Jays.
The Cubs’ Dilemma: Seize the Opportunity vs. The Sticking Point
The Cubs front office is being urged by analysts (like Bruce Levine) to pursue Imai aggressively, especially given his profile:8
The Fit: Imai is 27, has a high-90s fastball with carry, and is coming off a dominant NPB season (9$1.92$ ERA, 10$178$ strikeouts in 163 innings).11 He is the exact swing-and-miss talent the Cubs desperately need at the top of their rotation.12
The Hurdle: The only significant roadblock is Imai’s stated preference to avoid joining a team with existing Japanese players.13 The Cubs must now decide if they can convince him to bend this preference for the chance to play in a major market like Chicago and lead the charge against the Dodgers dynasty.
The Cubs’ decision on whether to “dare to seize” this opportunity will be the defining move of their offseason.
