MLB Rumors: Tatsuya Imai List Of Suitors Narrowing To 3 Teams
Tatsuya Imai is turning into the kind of winter chase that front offices hate and fan bases love.
With the Jan. 2 posting deadline looming, the right-hander is expected to pick his MLB team soon, and the early noise suggests the Los Angeles Dodgers are not the destination.
Instead, reports have the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies circling hardest, with meetings and a decision window that could wrap up quickly.
That matters because once Imai signs, the rest of the rotation market shifts, and teams that miss out will scramble to pivot. It also matters because Imai is not being framed as a flyer, but as a pitcher clubs believe can walk into a rotation right away.
Tatsuya Imai market heats up with Yankees interest
The New York Yankees have as clear a reason as anyone to push, because their starting pitching depth has been rattled by injury questions and uncertainty. Imai checks the “stuff” box teams crave, and he is coming off a season in Japan that screams impact, with a 1.92 ERA and strong strikeout-to-walk numbers across 163 innings.
“[Tatsuya Imai] has plenty of suitors lining up to pay him somewhere between $150 million and $200 million, a group that includes the deep-pocketed New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies.”
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) December 16, 2025
-@jareddiamond https://t.co/K63iQsbybx pic.twitter.com/FwaYGwlh1b
Evaluators tend to trust NPB pitchers more than hitters translating over, and that perception only boosts his value when a deadline forces quick decisions. The Yankees have been trying to get back into the Japanese market for a while, and the brand fit is obvious even if the weather isn’t.
If New York believes Imai can hold his command gains and keep missing bats with that mid-90s fastball and nasty breaking pitch, this becomes a move that stabilizes the staff and sends a message to the rest of the league.
Tatsuya Imai also linked to Cubs and Phillies
The Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies can sell a different pitch, and it might resonate more with a player looking for a challenge rather than comfort. Imai has already hinted he is not chasing the easiest path, and the idea of joining a club where he is not automatically surrounded by Japanese stars appears to appeal to him.
The Phillies have been tied to posted talent in recent winters, and their rotation still looks strong even with questions around the back end, which makes the fit easy to imagine.
The Cubs can offer a big market, a clear rotation lane, and a team that wants to take a real step forward after falling short of expectations.
The Yankees, Cubs, and Phillies are among suitors for Tatsuya Imai, with meetings in American expected to begin as soon as this week according to Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal. pic.twitter.com/9GqKlNwCoV
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) December 16, 2025
The Jan. 2 deadline means there is no waiting game that drifts into February, and that urgency tends to inflate conviction from teams that do not want to finish second. That’s why you’re seeing chatter about significant offers, and why every rumor feels like it carries more weight than the usual winter noise.
It’s also why the “next move” market matters, because clubs that miss on Imai will immediately pivot to other starters, whether that’s an established MLB arm or a trade target.
.jpg)
