Tatsuya Imai, a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Saitama Seibu Lions, was posted to Major League Baseball on November 19 and almost immediately became one of the most sought-after international free agents this winter.
Teams around the majors are expected to pursue the power right-hander during the posting window, but unfortunately for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Imai is not interested.
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“I want to take them down. (Playing together with players like Ohtani, Yamamoto, Sasaki, and others) of course sounds fun, but I think beating a team like that and becoming world champions would be the most valuable thing in my life,” he said.
Imai has entered the posting window off back-to-back seasons of high performance in NPB. His 2025 Pacific League line included a 1.92 ERA, a K/9 north of 9 and more than 160 innings pitched.
Interest in Imai has not been limited to coast-to-coast speculation. Agent comments and coverage this week have specifically flagged the New York Yankees among clubs with a realistic shot to sign a top Japanese starter, along with Chicago Cubs.
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New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) leaves the mound as manager Aaron Boone (17) makes a pitching change against the Boston Red Sox.© Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Imai projects as a power pitcher who could slot into a top-three rotation role and complement the club’s existing veteran arms. Analysts predict he could easily fetch a nine-figure contract in the ballpark of $150 million. Any more than that and the North Siders might bail out.
“Every season, I have played with the goal of winning the league championship and the Japan Series, and that ambition will not change with a new team,” Imai said earlier after entering free agency. “I will continue to compete with a strong desire to win and do my best to contribute to my team’s success.”
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.