NEW YORK — The Yankees have been linked to Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai for weeks. Fans dreamed about him anchoring a depleted rotation. The front office stayed quiet.
Now a plugged-in insider is throwing cold water on those hopes. And the January 2 deadline is just nine days away.
Jack Curry of YES Network delivered a grim update on Tuesday night. The veteran reporter spoke on the network’s Hot Stove show. His message left little room for optimism.
“A lot of places, there’s a connection between Imai and the Yankees being made,” Curry said. “The vibe that I’m getting is that that connection does not exist.”
This is not the Yamamoto pursuit
Curry drew a stark contrast to previous Yankees efforts. When Yoshinobu Yamamoto hit the market two years ago, the team pushed hard. They scheduled meetings. They made their case. They lost to the Dodgers anyway.
This time feels different. The silence speaks volumes.
“With Imai, the Yankees have been very quiet,” Curry said. “I don’t think the Yankees have been as aggressive, as intense in any kind of pursuit of Imai. They are making some moves around the edges… but I don’t think they are the frontrunners for Imai, and I don’t think he’ll be signing with them.”
Manager Aaron Boone added to the uncertainty on Friday. He admitted the Yankees have not met with Imai. They have not scheduled a meeting either. He does not know if they will.
Yankees rotation crisis remains unsolved
The need is obvious. Gerrit Cole underwent Tommy John surgery in March and will not return until May or June. Carlos Rodon had elbow surgery in October. He is targeting late April at the earliest. Clarke Schmidt had his own Tommy John procedure in July. He may miss the entire 2026 season.
That leaves Max Fried as the only guaranteed healthy starter when spring training opens. Rookie Cam Schlittler impressed with a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts last year. Will Warren will compete for a spot. Ryan Yarbrough provides depth.
Imai would have solved a lot of problems. The 27-year-old right-hander dominated NPB in 2025. He posted a 1.92 ERA with 178 strikeouts in 163.2 innings for the Seibu Lions. He threw a combined no-hitter in April. He set a franchise record with 17 strikeouts in June, surpassing Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Over his last two seasons, Imai owns a 2.14 ERA with 365 strikeouts in 337 innings. His fastball sits at 95 mph and can touch 99 in big moments. His slider generates a 45.7% whiff rate.
The Cubs lurking on the sidelines
Chicago has positioned itself well. The Cubs signed Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga from Japan in recent years. Both thrived. That track record matters to Japanese players making the transition.
Reports earlier this week suggested Imai prefers coastal teams over Midwest clubs. That appeared to hurt the Cubs and help the Yankees. But Curry’s report flips the script entirely.
The Phillies also remain in the mix. Imai has until January 2 to sign with any MLB team. Agent Scott Boras represents him. The price tag could reach $150 million or more, plus a posting fee of nearly $25 million to the Seibu Lions.
The backup plan remains unclear
General manager Brian Cashman has options. The trade market offers cost-controlled arms. Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta has drawn interest from the Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Giants and Astros.
But a trade costs prospects. Signing Imai would have cost only money. The financial flexibility matters when Bellinger remains the priority.
Curry mentioned Yarbrough as a potential option to fill rotation gaps. The left-hander posted a 3.83 ERA in 40 innings as a starter last season. He signed a minor league deal in November. That is not the splash fans wanted.
The clock is ticking
Imai’s deadline falls on January 2. Nine days remain. The Yankees have not scheduled a meeting. The insider says no connection exists.
Things can change quickly in baseball. Boras has pulled surprises before. The Yankees could still make a late push if Bellinger’s market stalls further.
But Curry’s report suggests the front office has different priorities. They want Bellinger back in pinstripes. They want him at the right price. A $150 million pitcher might not fit the plan.
The rotation will open the season short-handed either way. Cole and Rodon will miss Opening Day. Schmidt may not pitch at all in 2026. Fried cannot carry the staff alone.
The Yankees need arms. Imai was supposed to be the answer. Now the dream appears to be fading. And the January 2 deadline keeps getting closer.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
No one ever knows what’s in the “Brain Trust” mind. It does seem that the Yankees are operating as a low budget team, which is baffling.