The New York Yankees were given shocking news on the pursuit of International Free Agent Tatsuya Imai.
Imai is the top international free agent pitcher available, and the Yankees had been linked to the Japanese star right-hander. However, manager Aaron Boone revealed the team has yet to meet with Imai, and no meeting has been scheduled.
“I don’t know,” Boone said on Friday when asked if a meeting with Imai would happen.
The Yankees not having a meeting with Imai is surprising. Especially given the fact that New York had been considered a frontrunner for the right-hander.
However, this all could be a smokescreen from Boone, who doesn’t want to confirm the Yankees’ interest in Imai.
But, with Imai’s posting window set to close on Jan. 2, time is running out for him to get a deal with an MLB team. Yet, Imai is expected to travel to the United States to meet with teams soon before his posting window comes to an end.
Imai went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA in 24 games last season in Japan over 163.2 innings.
Yankees Presumed Front Runners for Imai
New York was expected to add to its rotation this offseason with Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole to miss the beginning of the year.
Yet, New York hasn’t made any moves in the rotation. MLB insider and former MLB GM Steve Phillips said on MLB Network that the Yankees are the favorites to land Imai.
“The reports right now are that the Yankees are aggressively in the market for a starter. And they’re in a position to either get Imai or Michael King,” Phillips said.
Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman, meanwhile, said at the Winter Meetings that he was impressed with Imai.
“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, as far as Japan,” Cashman said. “So, Scott Boras represents him. He’s got a long list of talented players on his roster. So, I’m talking to a lot of different agents. But he’s obviously one of ’em as well.”
Imai is 27 years old and should be in line for a sizable contract.
What Will Imai Get in Free Agency?
Imai is one of the top pitchers available and should get a sizable contract in free agency.
ESPN MLB insider Kiley McDaniel projected Imai to sign a six-year, $135 million deal plus a $22.125 million posting fee.
“Imai likely gets the biggest deal of any foreign professional this winter. He’s likely more of a solid No. 2 or No. 3 starter with some risk to get there than a potential ace. But his age and the lack of a qualifying offer will help bring up the amount teams are willing to pay for him,” McDaniel wrote. “Imai will be subject to the posting system. The posting fee for this projected contract would be just over $22 million, paid to his NPB club, for an all-in cost of just over $157 million ($26.2M AAV). …
“Every team would love to land a steady midrotation starter on a deal where half of it will take place in his 20s. If I miss this projection by $25 million or more, it’ll probably be because he got more money, not less.”
Imai has been linked to the Yankees, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets, among other teams.
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