With his posting window closing in a few days, Tatsuya Imai has little clarity on his MLB future.
During a recent interview with a Japanese outlet, Imai – who is in the United States to meet with interested teams ahead of his Jan. 2 deadline – talked about the process of trying to sign with an MLB team. He is meeting with clubs via Zoom.
Japanese flamethrower Tatsuya Imai remains on the market ahead of his January 2 deadline to sign. Getty Images
During an appearance on TV Asahi’s “Udo Times” In Japan, Imai revealed that despite interest from teams, he’s not close to any agreement. TV Asahi“Apparently, there actually aren’t many concrete options on the table yet,” Imai said on TV Asahi’s “Udo Times” program, according to a translated X post by @NekoSuke5_5_2. “And it seems that having teams show interest and receiving a formal offer are completely different things.”
It’s unclear what level of offers Imai has received.
Imai, 27, was also shown shopping at a Los Angeles supermarket during the segment — and was stunned by the price of groceries in America.
The polarizing right-hander will likely not face that issue much given his emphatic stance against signing with the Dodgers – but he has fielded interest from several teams, including the Yankees.
However, the YES Network’s Jack Curry said earlier this week that a connection between Imai and the Yankees “does not exist.”
Imai has also garnered interest from the Mets, Phillies and Cubs.
“There are many teams that are interested in him, and we are moving forward with negotiations,” agent Scott Boras told the Hochi News.
A three-time NPB All-Star, Imai has established himself as one of Japan’s top pitchers. Getty ImagesFor one of Nippon Professional Baseball’s top hurlers in recent seasons, a long-term deal once seemed like a certainty.
Across 159 career games with the Seibu Lions, he owns a 3.15 ERA and three NPB All-Star selections — including a 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts over 163⅔ innings in 2025.
But success in Japan hasn’t guaranteed big money this winter.
Slugger Munetaka Murakami appeared poised for a massive payday before settling for a two-year, $34 million deal with the White Sox a day before his posting window closed.
Another Japanese standout, infielder Kazuma Okamoto, is expected to come to MLB this offseason — yet he remains unsigned with his posting window set to close Jan. 4.
Imai cited fellow countryman Munetaka Murakami, whose transfer to the majors did not yield the type of lucrative contract that was once predicted. Getty ImagesImai referenced Murakami — and another Japanese star currently in MLB — to highlight the unpredictability of the process.
“With Masataka Yoshida, it seems the Red Sox didn’t even come to Japan to see him, and the deal was wrapped up in a single day,” Imai said. “And with [Munetaka] Murakami, not a single person predicted how it would turn out. The media doesn’t really know. What I actually see for myself — what I think and feel — that becomes the truth for me. That’s the only thing I rely on.”
If Imai does not agree to terms with an MLB team, he’d return to the Lions for the 2025 season, who recently added former Yankees pitcher Allan Winans.
During the program, Imai also spoke glowingly about his first in-person meeting with Boras, who has aggressively touted his client as a difference-maker this offseason.
Imai said Boras helped narrow his list of potential suitors — and added that one of his requests is for his trainer and interpreter to be included as part of any MLB agreement.
“I’m thinking of trying to make the best choice, with family to consider as well, and make a good decision,” Imai said.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Tatsuya Imai did not have any formal offers from MLB teams. It remains uncertain what level of offers the Japanese star currently has received.
