New York — The New York Yankees have talked a big game about landing a Japanese superstar.
Brian Cashman spoke openly about missing out on Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Hal Steinbrenner publicly expressed his desire for Japanese representation on the roster. The front office positioned itself as a serious contender for Tatsuya Imai after the Saitama Seibu Lions posted the right-hander on November 19.
Now comes a troubling report. If the price climbs too high, the Yankees might walk away from the most talented Japanese pitcher on the market.
When ‘earnestly pursuing’ hits a ceiling
The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty reported that the Yankees are expected to “earnestly pursue” Imai this offseason. That sounds promising on the surface. The 27-year-old finished his breakout season with a 1.92 ERA in 163.2 innings. He struck out 178 batters while walking just 45. He posted the highest whiff rate of any qualified NPB pitcher since tracking began in 2014.
But there is a caveat. Kuty warned that if the asking price for Imai spirals beyond $150 million to $200 million, the Yankees may explore cheaper alternatives.
“The Yankees are expected to earnestly pursue Imai as they continue to survey the entire pitching market for an arm, according to a league source,” Kuty wrote. “But don’t be surprised if they end up going cheaper if the price ratchets up for the right-hander.”
The backup options include Justin Verlander, Chris Bassitt, Tyler Mahle and Lucas Giolito. All are veterans with track records. None would generate the buzz or the ceiling that Imai represents.
A rotation crying out for reinforcements
The Yankees face a pitching crisis heading into 2026. Gerrit Cole will not be ready for Opening Day as he continues recovering from Tommy John surgery. Carlos Rodon underwent elbow surgery to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur. Clarke Schmidt is working back from his own Tommy John procedure and may not pitch until the second half of the season.
That leaves Max Fried as the only proven starter available for April. Behind him sit Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil and Will Warren. All three showed flashes in 2025. None has handled a full big league workload.
Cashman addressed the predicament at the GM meetings.
“We’ll be exploring how to protect ourselves so we’re not taking on water early because our rotation is compromised out of the gate,” Cashman said.
Imai would solve much of that problem. His fastball sits between 93 and 97 mph and touches 99. His slider generated a 53 percent whiff rate in 2025. He mixes in a splitter and what scouts call a “reverse slider” that moves toward his arm side instead of away.
The gamble Cashman may be willing to take
Not spending big on Imai would signal that Cashman believes the Yankees have enough pitching already. The logic has some merit. Once Cole and Rodon return, the rotation could be formidable. Schmidt would add depth in the second half. The young arms might develop.
It is a gamble. Injuries derailed the 2025 rotation. More could pop up in 2026. The Yankees have not won a championship since 2009. The drought now stretches to 16 years.
Kuty acknowledged the risk.
“The situation the Yankees currently face is unique,” Kuty wrote. “They hope to get Rodon back by late April or early May, Cole back by May or June and Schmidt around August. Provided the returns go as planned, they would be adding them to a group featuring Max Fried, Luis Gil, Will Warren and Cam Schlittler.”
That is a lot of hoping. A lot of trust that bodies will hold up and timelines will not slip.
Imai has already signaled his preferences
The pitcher himself has dropped hints about where he wants to land. In an interview with former MLB star Daisuke Matsuzaka, Imai made it clear he would rather beat the Los Angeles Dodgers than join them.
He also said he prefers a team without a heavy Japanese presence. That challenges him to adapt on his own.
“If there were another Japanese player on the same team, I could just ask them about anything, right?” Imai said.
The Yankees fit that profile. They have not signed a Japanese player since Masahiro Tanaka in 2013. The franchise desperately wants back into that market. Steinbrenner said as much last week.
“Do I feel it would be good to have Japanese representation, of course!” Steinbrenner said. “We were very much in on Yamamoto as you know, it did not work out. It was not for lack of trying, I can assure you of that.”
Competition is fierce and time is short
Imai’s agent, Scott Boras, confirmed the pitcher is open to any geographic location. That keeps every big spender in play. The Mets, Giants, Cubs, Red Sox and Blue Jays are all expected to bid. The Dodgers remain a wild card despite Imai’s stated preference.
“Imai is very geographically open,” Boras said.
The posting window closes on January 2. That gives teams about five more weeks to finalize a deal. Contract projections range from $150 million to $200 million over six to eight years. The signing team will also owe the Lions a posting fee that could reach $24 million for a deal matching those projections.
Boras has talked up his client at every opportunity.
“When most teams talk to me about Imai, they say, ‘Oh, my,'” Boras said. “He’s that kind of guy. I think when you watch him pitch, he leaves an indelible mark on you.”
The Yankees cannot afford another miss
The franchise watched Ohtani sign with the Dodgers. They lost the bidding for Yamamoto. Those decisions followed the players to back-to-back World Series titles in Los Angeles.
Cashman has acknowledged the pattern.
“We have been very aggressive in the more recent market, but fell short,” Cashman said. “Those players made the decision to go play for the Dodgers, and clearly the success has followed them.”
Now comes another chance. Imai represents the best opportunity in over a decade for the Yankees to make a splash in the Japanese market. Walking away because of price would be a tough sell to a fan base already frustrated by 16 years without a title.
Whether Cashman pulls the trigger or flinches at the final number will define this entire offseason. The clock is ticking.
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