Yankees pull back from slugger race for all-out run at Japanese ace
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Follow UsNew York — The New York Yankees have made their priorities clear this offseason. After weeks of speculation about their interest in top Japanese sluggers, the front office is shifting its focus. The Yankees now appear ready to chase pitching above everything else as they prepare for 2026.
General manager Brian Cashman is directing his efforts toward right-handed starter Tatsuya Imai. Several reports state the Yankees are “highly motivated” to secure the 27-year-old ace. Imai finished the 2025 season in Japan with a 1.92 ERA and enters free agency as one of the most talented starters available. The Yankees believe he could reshape their rotation and their long-term plans. The move signals a strategic shift that may influence the entire offseason.
Two sluggers, one clear choice
The Yankees spent much of the fall evaluating two Japanese sluggers who were expected to draw major league interest. Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto both bring elite power from Nippon Professional Baseball. Their track records made them attractive options for a Yankees offense that needed more consistent production in 2025.
Murakami became a national star in 2022 when he broke Sadaharu Oh’s long-standing record by hitting 56 home runs. Fans in Japan call him “Murakami-sama,” a name that reflects his dominance at the plate. His strength and bat speed set him apart in NPB.
Okamoto has been just as powerful. The 29-year-old corner infielder has hit 277 home runs over 11 seasons. When given at least 500 plate appearances, he averaged 33.1 home runs per year. That type of steady power made him an appealing fit for the Yankees lineup.
Adding either hitter would have given the Yankees more pop, especially after their contact issues during 2025. But the Yankees determined only one of the two matched what they needed most.
The Yankee verdict arrives
Dan Treacy of The Sporting News reported that the Yankees are stepping away from the Murakami pursuit. The defensive concerns and strikeout rates raised too many questions.
“Munetaka Murakami is the biggest fish on the international market this winter, but he likely isn’t a fit for the Yankees as a poor defender and long-term designated hitter,” Treacy wrote.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan named the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Pittsburgh Pirates as expected bidders for Murakami. The Yankees are not included, which confirms their shift.
Murakami struck out 28.1 percent of the time in 2024 and 29.5 percent in 2025. That worried the Yankees as they prioritized more contact in the lineup. His defensive position also limited his value.
Okamoto offered much more balance. He struck out only 11.3 percent of the time in 2025. He can play both corner infield roles. His 2025 season featured a .327 average and a .416 on-base percentage.
“29-year-old Kazuma Okamoto, who hit .322 last season in a league lacking offense, could be a cheaper, more sensible option,” Treacy wrote. “Okamoto could at the very least platoon with Rice at first base or replace him altogether, and he is also capable of playing third if McMahon isn’t in the lineup.”
Still, the Yankees are expected to pass on both players. The front office believes their resources must go into starting pitching.
The real target emerges
Cashman is directing full attention toward Imai. The Saitama Seibu Lions posted the right-hander on Nov. 19. The move opened a 45-day window for Imai to negotiate with MLB clubs. The deadline to finalize a contract is Jan. 2.
The Athletic’s Eno Sarris said Imai could become one of the top value signings of the offseason.
“So, on comps based on the bare minimum of information, Imai already looks like a decent bet in free agency,” Sarris wrote. “It gets better if you look under the hood. On velocity alone, Imai sat around 95 mph in Japan and touched 100, if he sits closer to his max, as is the custom in MLB, he would have the best fastball of this trio by miles per hour.”
Sarris compared Imai’s pitch traits to Joe Ryan, Cole Henry and Luis Castillo. That comparison reflects Imai’s ability to generate swing-and-miss.
Imai finished 2025 with a 10-5 record and a 1.92 ERA through 24 starts. He recorded 178 strikeouts in 163 and two-thirds innings. He walked only 45 hitters. His walk rate improved every year from 2022 to 2025. It dropped from 5.1 walks per nine innings to 2.5.
Those numbers show why the Yankees want him. His age, workload and strikeout rate stand out in a market thin on high-end starters.
Why pitching trumps power
The Yankees know their rotation is thin. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon will miss time at the start of 2026 due to injuries. The staff will lean on Luis Gil, Max Fried, Will Warren and Cam Schlittler. That group brings upside but limited major league experience behind Fried.
Imai would bring immediate stability. He has thrown more than 800 innings in Japan and stayed healthy for years. He also has a strong mix of pitches, including a slider, cutter and splitter. His fastball touched triple digits in NPB.
The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty reported the Yankees’ high level of interest.
“Imai is a right-hander with serious upside, and the Yankees are interested in him,” Kuty wrote. “They view him as at least a mid-rotation type, according to a league source. Though he’s a bit undersized at 5-foot-11, his fastball reaches the mid to upper 90s, and it comes from a low slot, a funky look for hitters.”
Imai also posted a 32 percent whiff rate in 2025. That mark was the highest recorded for any qualified NPB starter since stat tracking began in 2014.
Contract projections vary wildly
Imai is represented by Scott Boras, which means negotiations will be intense. Contract expectations range from $150 million to $200 million. Jon Heyman predicted eight years at $200 million. Tim Britton projected eight years at $190 million. Jim Bowden suggested seven years at $154 million.
The range shows how uncertain teams are about his transition to MLB. But Imai has one major advantage. Unlike free agents tied to qualifying offers, he does not require draft pick compensation.
Competition heats up quickly
The Yankees will face stiff competition. The Dodgers remain a major threat after their success with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Mets, Giants, Cubs, Red Sox and Blue Jays are all expected to bid.
The Yankees have not signed a Japanese player since Masahiro Tanaka in 2013. Fans have watched other teams dominate that market. Cashman knows the Yankees need to change that trend.
Budget concerns remain real
Trent Grisham accepted a $22 million qualifying offer. That surprised the Yankees and tightened their payroll plans. Cashman said it would not stop their pursuit of Cody Bellinger. Both Bellinger and Imai are Boras clients. That could lead to linked discussions.
The Yankees must juggle their rotation needs with outfield gaps and bullpen issues. Devin Williams and Luke Weaver left in free agency. The Yankees need multiple arms. Adding Imai could push the payroll limits.
History could repeat itself
The Yankees’ last major Japanese import was Tanaka, who delivered seven strong seasons before returning to Japan in 2020. That success story provides a template for what Imai could become.
But the organization also whiffed badly on Hideki Irabu in the late 1990s while nailing the 2002 signing of Hideki Matsui. The track record is mixed at best.
Imai represents the best chance in over a decade for the Yankees to make a splash in the Japanese market. Whether Cashman pulls the trigger with such a massive financial commitment will define this entire offseason.
The clock is ticking toward that Jan. 2 deadline.
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