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Could the Yankees add a free agent ace to their starting rotation?
The New York Yankees have some work to do to become World Series favorites. The Los Angeles Dodgers proved that starting pitching can go a long way. Additionally, they proved that a timely offense is better than a barrage of bats.
Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are two significant pieces of the Dodgers’ rotation. The Yankees could take a page out of the Dodgers’ playbook by landing one of the top free agent pitchers, Tatsuya Imai.
New York Yankees Are Favorites to Add Tatsuya Imai
Unsurprisingly, after the Imai news broke, one insider linked him to the Yankees. Baseball journalist Francys Romero was one of the first to reveal the official news of his posting.
“The Seibu Lions have approved the posting of 27-year-old ace Tatsuya Imai,” Romero wrote on social media late on November 9th. “If the request is approved, he will have 45 days to negotiate with all 30 MLB teams. The Yankees are expected to be among the favorites to land Imai, according to sources.”
This process does not guarantee an MLB contract. However, it does put a deadline on when the player can sign before they lose the opportunity to do so for this season.
Jon Heyman reports that Imai is one of several Japanese players he predicts could sign with an MLB team, a prediction that came true on Sunday night.
“Noted Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami isn’t the only Japanese star moving to MLB this winter,” Heyman wrote in the New York Post article from September 4, 2025. “Yomiuri Giants star Kazuma Okamoto, another big-hitting third baseman/first baseman who’s comped to Seiya Suzuki, and Seibu Lions pitching star Tatsuya Imai, who has a 1.50 ERA and throws 98 mph with a plus slider, are being posted, too, sources say.”
Heyman believes that Imai is now one of the top pitchers available through free agency.
“The righty who throws up to 99 mph,” Heyman wrote on social media. “Should be one of the top 3 free agent pitchers, along with Dylan Cease and Framber Valdez.”
What Tatsuya Imai Could Bring to the Yankees
Imai is a 27-year-old starting pitcher who is an eight-year veteran of the Nippon Professional Baseball league (NPB).
The starting ace has put together an impressive stat line. He has a record of 58-45, a 3.15 ERA, 14 complete games, seven shutouts, 907 strikeouts, and a 1.267 WHIP.
MLBTradeRumors claims that there is significant upside for a team to sign Imai. They are predicting a pretty substantial deal could be in store for the 27-year-old ace.
“Between his age and an intriguing four-pitch arsenal (headlined by a fastball in the 95-99mph range and a plus slider),” Mark Polishuk wrote on November 9, 2025. “There’s a lot to like in terms of how Imai’s success in NPB might translate against Major League hitters. We’re predicting a six-year, $150MM deal. Some evaluators feel Imai projects as a back-end starter or even as a reliever in the majors.”
Max Fried, Garrit Cole, Luis Gil, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt are the starting rotation pitchers. Seeing where Imai lands will be an interesting storyline to follow over the next 45 days.
Caleb Kerney Caleb covers the NHL for Heavy.com. He has covered professional hockey since 2022, including bylines at Dobber Prospects, The Hockey Writers, and The Hockey News. More about Caleb Kerney
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