NEW YORK — The Yankees may have just caught a major break. A fresh leak suggests Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai prefers playing for a coastal team. That preference could doom the Chicago Cubs in their pursuit of the 27-year-old right-hander.
The posting deadline sits 10 days away. January 2 marks the final day for Imai to choose his MLB destination. And suddenly, the landscape appears to be shifting in favor of the Bronx Bombers.
But here is what makes this interesting. The Yankees have not even met with Imai yet. Manager Aaron Boone admitted as much in recent days. So how can a team that has barely engaged emerge as a frontrunner?
The leak that changes everything
Reports surfaced on December 22 suggesting Imai wants to play on the coast rather than the Midwest. This is not unusual for Japanese players making the jump to MLB. Many prefer familiar settings near major metropolitan hubs.
The Cubs represent everything Imai apparently wants to avoid. Chicago sits in the heart of the country. The winters are brutal. The time zone difference from Japan makes communication with family even harder.
New York offers the opposite. A massive Japanese community. Easy access to international flights. And perhaps most importantly, the bright lights that come with wearing pinstripes.
What Imai brings to the mound
Make no mistake. Imai is the real deal. The 27-year-old dominated Nippon Professional Baseball for the Seibu Lions over the past three seasons. His numbers speak for themselves.
From 2023 to 2025, Imai posted a combined 2.18 ERA across 470 innings. He struck out 495 batters. His record stood at 30-18. In 2025 alone, he finished with a 1.92 ERA, a 0.89 WHIP and 178 strikeouts in 163.2 innings.
His arsenal features an upper-90s fastball and a devastating slider that hitters struggle to identify. Tyler Austin, who played six years in Japan for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and recently signed with the Cubs, faced Imai firsthand.
“His stuff is there,” Austin said on December 22 during an appearance on MLB Network Radio. “The makeup is there. I’ve spoken to him a little bit. He is more focused than anybody I’ve seen on that side of the ball over there, if that makes sense. He dialed into his craft. Really, really, really good stuff.”
Austin struck out against Imai during one at-bat in Japan. He walked back to the dugout convinced he had just seen a fork ball. Turns out it was a slider.
“I came back into the dugout, and I was like, ‘Man, that’s a disgusting fork [ball],'” Austin added. “I assume that the last two pitches he had were forks. Our analytic guy looks at me and goes, ‘Hey, those were sliders.’ I’m like, ‘I’ve never seen one like it.'”
Why the Yankees need Imai badly
The rotation in the Bronx is a mess. Gerrit Cole remains on the shelf after Tommy John surgery last March. He is not expected back until May or June at the earliest. Carlos Rodon had left elbow surgery in October and likely will open the season on the injured list.
Clarke Schmidt could miss most if not all of 2026 following his second Tommy John operation last July. That leaves Max Fried and Luis Gil as the only reliable starters. They cannot carry the load alone.
Imai would slot in immediately behind Fried. His strikeout stuff and durability make him an ideal fit. He averaged 6.2 innings per start over the last two seasons in Japan despite standing just 5-foot-11 and weighing 154 pounds.
The projected contract sits between $135 million and $200 million. Some reports suggest he could command $190 million over eight years. That kind of investment fits the Yankees profile when they truly want a player.
Cubs face spending concerns
Chicago has never signed a pitcher for more than $155 million. The Cubs historically refuse to back up the Brinks truck for free agents. That frugality could cost them here.
Marquee Sports Network’s Lance Brozdowski addressed this concern on December 19 during Cubs 360.
“If the Cubs internal model says he’s worth five for $100 million plus the posting fee, let’s say, 20 a year, I have to imagine the Yankees can just swing in there and go, ‘Cool, we’ll give you six [years] for [$120 million],'” Brozdowski said. “That’s the uncomfortable that I’m talking about. Are the Cubs willing to push a little bit above what their internal say on a guy like Imai?”
The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma reported on December 22 that if Imai ends up receiving $190 million over eight years, the Cubs probably will not be the winning bidder. Chicago simply does not operate that way.
The Bellinger factor in the Bronx
The Yankees have plenty on their plate. Cody Bellinger remains unsigned after opting out of the final season of his three-year, $80 million contract. Re-signing Bellinger is a top priority for Brian Cashman.
Bellinger hit 29 home runs with an .813 OPS for New York in 2025. He provides flexibility in the outfield and at first base. His bat would help balance a lineup that already features five left-handed regulars.
The pursuit of Bellinger does not preclude adding Imai. The Yankees operate with different financial rules than most franchises. They can chase both players aggressively if they choose.
Bellinger represents the kind of proven commodity the Yankees typically favor. Imai carries more risk as a pitcher who has never thrown an MLB inning. But the upside is undeniable.
The clock is ticking
Imai plans to travel to the United States in the coming days. Meetings with interested teams will follow. The posting window closes on January 2 at 5 p.m. Eastern.
MLB insider Francys Romero reported on December 17 that roughly five teams remain in the mix. The Yankees and Cubs sit atop that list. The Phillies and Orioles also have shown interest.
The Dodgers are notably absent from the conversation. Imai himself ruled them out, telling a Japanese outlet, “They don’t need me.” Los Angeles signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto last winter and already boasts one of the deepest rotations in baseball.
That removes a familiar obstacle for the Yankees. New York chased Shohei Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki in recent years. All three chose the Dodgers. The last Japanese star the Yankees signed was Masahiro Tanaka in 2014.
This time feels different. The Dodgers are out. The geographic preference leans toward New York. The Cubs may not have the stomach to match a $190 million offer.
Bellinger returning to the Bronx. Imai joining the rotation. Both moves remain possible. And with this fresh leak suggesting coastal preference, the Yankees suddenly look like the team to beat in one of the biggest free agency battles of the winter.
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