Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai will be posted for MLB clubs to sign on Nov. 19, agent Scott Boras told reporters at the GM meetings on Wednesday in Las Vegas.
A 27-year-old right-hander, Imai was 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA this season for Nippon Professional Baseball’s Seibu Lions, striking out 178 in 163.2 innings.
A three-time all-star, he pitched eight innings of a combined no-hitter against Fukuoka on April 18. Imai struck out 17 against Yokohama on June 17, breaking Daisuke Matsuzaka’s team record of 16 from 2004.
Imai is 58-45 with a 3.15 ERA in eight seasons with Seibu, striking out 907 in 963.2 innings.
Under MLB’s posting agreement with Nippon Professional Baseball, a player may be posted from Nov. 1 until Dec. 15, and a posted player has 45 days to reach an agreement with an MLB team. The posting fee would be 20 per cent of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5 per cent of the next $25 million and 15 per cent of any amount over $50 million. There would be a supplemental fee of 15 per cent of any earned bonuses, salary escalators and exercised options.
–with files from The Associated Press