MLB Teams Circling Yet Another Japanese Phenom Pitcher
After a 1.92 ERA season with the Seibu Lions and back-to-back All-Star nods, evaluators view him as MLB-ready right now. Front offices across the league are lining up scouting looks as they prepare for a posting that could greatly aid multiple rotations.
Why Imai Tops the Market
Imai brings a six-pitch mix that plays in today’s game. The fastball sits at 95 and can touch the upper 90s, paired with a mid-80s slider that bends the wrong way like a screwball, plus a splitter, changeup, sinker and curveball.
Tatsuya Imai looks every bit like an impact arm that MLB teams will be eager to pursue.
— The Wrigley Wire (@TheWrigleyWire) November 9, 2025
2025 NPB ranks:
1.92 ERA (6th)
0.89 WHIP (2nd)
2.01 FIP (2nd)
27.8 K% (1st)
0.33 HR/9 (2nd)
.172 Opp Avg (1st)
pic.twitter.com/X9LADYYNO1
He has held velocity over heavy workloads and trimmed his walk rate to single digits, the kind of leap that teams love to see. A 17-strikeout gem this summer pushed him from interesting to priority for clubs that missed on recent Japan stars or need a frontline complement without waiting on prospects.
Who Is Circling and What It Could Cost
The San Francisco Giants have been tied to Imai as they hunt multiple starters and revisit the Japan pipeline. The New York Yankees make sense while they manage age and injuries in the rotation. The Boston Red Sox need a true No. 2 and have scouted the top NPB class closely.
I need Tatsuya Imai on the Giants pic.twitter.com/4Q8WgC5Qt5
— SleeperSFGiants (@SleeperSFGiants) November 7, 2025
Given recent precedents, a contract in the Senga-to-Yamamoto range has been floated, with estimates from the mid-nine figures to around two hundred million, plus the posting fee.
That price proves that teams see more something real with Imai, and are willing to pay the price to bring him over to North America.
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