The New York Yankees have some work to do this offseason. So far this offseason, they have signed Trent Grisham, in addition to making decisions on tendered and non-tendered players. What remains is finding multiple new pitchers (both starting and bullpen) in addition to bringing back Cody Bellinger. Another big question is how hard they will pursue free agent ace Tatsuya Imai.
The Yankees have reported interest in the pitcher. However, because other teams are also interested, they will need to act quickly to secure the unique ace or risk gambling away their opportunity.
Other Teams’ Interest in Tatsuya Imai Could Jeopardize Yankees’ Chances
ClutchPoints recently ran a piece revealing some of the top clubs poking around Imai to see if there is a fit. According to Mike Gianakos, there could be at least four teams interested in the NPB pitcher.
“Imai is sure to draw significant interest during the offseason as teams look to bolster their starting rotations,” Gianakos wrote on November 22nd. “The Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants have already shown interest. But Imai could also be a good fit with the San Diego Padres and New York Mets.”
The Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, and San Diego Padres have all lost at least one starter to free agency. Looking to make up for that loss with Imai makes sense.
Mark Feinsand believes that the market for Imai will be as busy as the market for the other top starters available this winter.
“The right-hander won’t land the same kind of deal that Yoshinobu Yamamoto did two years ago,” Feinsand predicted on November 21, 2025. “But, he’s going to be coveted every bit as much as Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, Michael King, and Ranger Suárez — and unlike those four, he doesn’t have a qualifying offer attached to him.”
Yankees Must Act Now With Imai
With at least four teams interested in Imai, the time is now for the Yankees to act. It should be management’s number one priority to sign the 27-year-old to a new deal.
If the Yankees aren’t the first team to offer a massive deal for the potential ace, they are gambling away a golden opportunity. Sitting and waiting won’t be productive either. Too much of that could result in New York walking away from free agency without any of the top pitchers.
They aren’t a team desperate for starting pitching. However, adding another player to the rotation gives the team more flexibility and more options. That’s worth paying a premium right now instead of waiting.
What Makes Tatsuya Imai Unique?
Imai is a unique pitching talent. However, it’s often difficult to predict how players will fare once they cross over from NPB to MLB.
Lance Brozdowski revealed a few things about the pitcher that make him a unique talent. He highlighted two things: his release height on pitches and his slider movement.
“Talking about why is he so effective,” Brozdowski said in a clip published initially by the Marquee Network. “It’s the release height. It’s much lower than the Major League average by about 10 inches. That creates a visual perception for a hitter of his fastball being very flat to the zone.”
“So, it’s hard to get under it and get on top of it.”
Then, Brozdowski digs into why his slider is such a special pitch.
“His slider moves arm side,” Brozdowski reveals. “You almost think that it’s a splitter because it’s moving to the arm side. It’s an odd shape, one that you don’t see a lot in Major League Baseball.”
“There’s not a lot of precedent of this arm slider shape.”
Tatsuya Imai’s Contract Prediction
Imai could command a big payday. The New York Post has a favorable projection for the starter. Jon Heyman believes that a long-term deal is in store for the ace he has projected as the second-best free agent.
The scribe expects a deal in the range of $200 million and eight years.
That is a reasonable expectation for a pitcher who has high potential, thanks to his pitching arsenal. Only time will tell if the Yankees jump on this opportunity or miss the boat.
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