The New York Yankees are aggressively pursuing NPB ace Tatsuya Imai of the Saitama Seibu Lions, seeing him as the ideal solution to bolster their starting rotation while major arms like Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery) and Carlos Rodón (bone spur removal) recover.
Imai, 27, who will be posted this offseason, is viewed as both an on-field necessity and a strategic move to re-establish the Yankees’ presence in the increasingly vital Japanese market, especially after the Dodgers’ success with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Yankees are considered one of the favorites to sign Imai.
Imai’s Profile: The Low-Slot Power Pitcher
Imai’s 2025 season was dominant, showcasing a blend of velocity, movement, and improving control that makes him a highly sought-after commodity
- 2025 NPB Stats: 10-5 record with a 1.92 ERA over 163.2 innings in 24 starts.
- Pitch Mix: He possesses a five-pitch arsenal: Four-seamer, slider, changeup, splitter, and a sinker/vulcan changeup.
- Fastball: Sits at 95 MPH and can reach 99 MPH. It is noted for generating better-than-average vertical movement from a lower-than-average release height (5’0″).
- Control: Crucially, his walk rate has steadily improved, dropping to a very solid 2.47 BB/9 in 2025, which translates to a low 0.89 WHIP.
The Strategic Fit for the Yankees
Imai’s addition is seen as the perfect “remedy” for New York’s rotation concerns:
| Rotation Concern | Tatsuya Imai’s Solution |
| Injury Risk/Age | At 27 (turning 28 in May), he provides a durable, prime-aged arm with a clean injury slate to offset the 35-year-old Cole and 32-year-old Rodón. |
| Immediate Depth | He instantly slots into the 2026 rotation, rounding out the staff alongside younger arms like Cam Schlittler (24) and Will Warren (26). |
| Japanese Market Failures | Signing a top Japanese star would end the team’s long string of failures in this market, signaling a commitment to a global talent pool that has paid dividends for rivals like the Dodgers. |
| Pitching Comparison (Max Fried) | His reliance on velocity when needed is compared to Max Fried’s approach. His low-slot delivery creates a unique flat plane on his fastball, complementing the rest of the rotation’s pitch characteristics. |
Contract Projection and Posting Fee
Given his age, dominant season, and improved control, Imai is predicted to command a massive deal despite some evaluators projecting him as a back-end starter.
Contract Prediction: MLB Trade Rumors projects a six-year, $150 million deal.
- Posting Fee: If he signs a deal of that size, the Yankees would owe the Saitama Seibu Lions an estimated $24.375 million posting fee, bringing the total cost of acquisition to over $174 million.With other contenders like the Blue Jays and Mets likely to be involved, the Yankees will need to be aggressive in both the years and total money to secure this crucial international win.
The Yankees are considered one of the favorites to land Tatsuya Imai. To complete the picture of his fit, could you search for the predicted contract (years and value) for Alex Bregman, another major Yankees target who is also a free agent this offseason?
