NEW YORK — The clock strikes midnight on Tatsuya Imai’s MLB dreams in less than 30 hours. And the Yankees appear nowhere in sight.
The Japanese right-hander must finalize a contract with a major league club by Friday at 5 p.m. ET. If he fails, Imai returns to the Saitama Seibu Lions for the 2026 season. No second chances. No extensions. Gone.
Yet despite weeks of speculation linking Imai to the Yankees, the Yankees have not met with him yet. No meeting has been scheduled with a day to go.
The market that never materialized
Imai was supposed to be one of the premier free agents available this winter. The 27-year-old posted a dominant 1.92 ERA with 178 strikeouts across 163 2/3 innings for the Seibu Lions in 2025. He owns the best strikeout rate in Nippon Professional Baseball since the start of 2024 at 27 percent.
Projections suggested he would land a six-year deal worth $135 million to $150 million. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel forecast a contract around $135 million plus a posting fee exceeding $22 million.
Those numbers now appear wildly optimistic.
“Apparently, there actually aren’t many concrete options on the table yet,” Imai said during an appearance on TV Asahi’s “Udo Times” show. “And it seems that having teams show interest and receiving a formal offer are completely different things.”
Yankees remain silent on Japanese ace
The Yankees have been linked to Imai since his posting window opened on November 19. General manager Brian Cashman praised the pitcher at the Winter Meetings. He called Imai a “very talented player” and acknowledged conversations with agent Scott Boras.
“Very talented player coming over from Japan, and we’ve certainly taken our big swings for trying to add some more talented players, whether they’re local or overseas,” Cashman said.
Yet YES Network’s Jack Curry reported that “the connection does not exist” between the Yankees and Imai. The team has not held a formal meeting despite the looming deadline.
The Yankees desperately need rotation help. Gerrit Cole projects to return between late May and early June following Tommy John surgery. Carlos Rodon targets a comeback between late April and early May after elbow surgery. Imai could have filled that void perfectly.
Short-term deal emerges as new possibility
The market dynamics have shifted dramatically. Rather than pursuing the $150 million contract Boras initially sought, reports indicate Imai now considers shorter agreements.
Several interested teams have hesitated to make formal long-term offers. That reluctance has pushed Imai and Boras to explore deals that would allow him to establish his value before returning to free agency.
A three-year contract has emerged as a possibility. Such a deal would position the 27-year-old to re-enter the open market at age 30, still in his prime and potentially in line for a much larger payday after proving himself in MLB.
The precedent exists. Fellow Japanese star Munetaka Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the Chicago White Sox after his market cratered. His projected value had exceeded $100 million before teams balked.
White Sox emerge as surprise contender
A Yahoo Japan report sent shockwaves through baseball circles this week. The Chicago White Sox have emerged as strong contenders for Imai’s services.
The rebuilding franchise already signed Murakami in December. Adding Imai would give them a Japanese tandem that could accelerate their rebuild. The low-pressure environment and financial flexibility to pay a higher annual salary on a short-term deal make Chicago an attractive destination.
However, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand downplayed the likelihood. A source told Feinsand that Chicago’s chances of actually landing Imai remain slim despite the reported interest.
Mets, Cubs and Phillies still circling Imai
The Cubs have been viewed as frontrunners throughout the process. The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney reported that Chicago appears further along than most competitors.
The Mets remain engaged despite concerns about long-term pitching commitments. President of baseball operations David Stearns has shown willingness to make substantial deals for young talent, most notably Juan Soto and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The Phillies continue hovering around Imai’s market. Philadelphia has expressed interest in breaking into the Japanese player pipeline and adding both Imai and corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto.
The Braves have also shown interest, per Yahoo Sports. Atlanta needs rotation help after losing key arms in recent seasons.
The numbers behind the intrigue
Imai’s 2025 season ranks among the best in recent NPB history. His 0.89 WHIP led all qualified pitchers in Japan. He posted five complete games, including three shutouts. On June 17, he struck out 17 batters against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, breaking a club record.
His fastball sits in the mid-90s with the ability to reach 99 mph in leverage situations. His slider generates a 45.7 percent whiff rate, including 53.2 percent against right-handed hitters.
The concerns center on sustainability. Imai lowered his arm angle from 33 degrees to 25 degrees in 2025. That mechanical adjustment drove much of his improvement. Whether he can maintain it against MLB hitters remains uncertain.
At 5-foot-11, his stature also raises durability questions. Teams have noted both factors in their evaluations.
What it means for the Yankees
The Yankees have not had a Japanese pitcher since Masahiro Tanaka’s tenure ended after the 2020 season. Tanaka produced 17.4 bWAR during seven seasons in pinstripes with a 78-46 record and 3.74 ERA.
Adding Imai would have addressed multiple needs. He could have slotted behind Max Fried while protecting the rotation until Cole and Rodon return. If his price has truly dropped, the opportunity becomes even more compelling.
Yet the silence from the Yankees suggests they have moved in a different direction. Their offseason focus remains on re-signing Cody Bellinger and potentially pursuing Kyle Tucker.
The deadline arrives Friday at 5 p.m. ET. Somewhere between now and then, Imai must find a home. The Yankees appear content to watch from the sidelines.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
The New York Yankees have adopted a “wait and see” strategy this offseason, showing a cooling attitude towards acquiring Tatsuya Imai, with rumors even suggesting they’ve “withdrew.” However, this doesn’t mean the Yankees have truly given up. The main reason is that the market value of the Yankees’ three main potential trade targets—Freddy Peralta, Mackenzie Gore, and Sandy Alcantara—is extremely high. Current market offers almost universally require the Yankees to trade their top prospect, “The Martian” Jasson Dominguez, or the strong Spencer Jones, along with several promising talents. Currently, the Yankees are clearly unwilling to pay such a high price to trade Jasson Dominguez or send away the promising Spencer Jones. Signing Tatsuya Imai has become the Yankees’ only option and opportunity to strengthen their starting rotation. Brian Cashman should take the initiative and seize this opportunity, signing him in the last two days (48 hours remaining) of the negotiation deadline, instead of remaining on the sidelines and appear content to watch from the sidelines.!