The Mets are interested in Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, according to Andy Martino of SNY. Imai has not been officially posted yet, but his team, the Saitama Seibu Lions of NPB, recently announced that they intend to do so. Martino notes that the Mets’ level of interest is not the same as it was for Yoshinobu Yamamoto two offseasons ago, implying that Imai is simply one of several arms the club is looking into.
Imai, 27, has pitched for the Lions for eight years and is a three-time NPB All-Star. After middling results in his first three seasons from 2018-20, he pitched to a 3.30 ERA in 25 starts in 2021 and has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in every full season since (he only made nine starts in 2022). This year, Imai turned in a career-best effort with a 1.92 ERA in 163 2/3 innings across 24 starts. He also set a career high with a 27.8% strikeout rate while decreasing his walk rate to a career-low 7.0%. His season was highlighted by a combined no-hitter on April 18, in which he pitched the first eight innings, as well as a 17-strikeout performance on June 17 that broke the club record previously set by Daisuke Matsuzaka.
The NPB requires players to have nine years of service time before they become unrestricted free agents. By allowing Imai to pursue a move to MLB one year early, the Lions will secure a posting fee based on the value of his contract. We at MLBTR project Imai for a six-year, $150MM contract and placed him seventh on our Top 50 Free Agents list. Based on that projection, any signing team would owe the Lions a $24.375MM posting fee. In terms of stuff, Imai boasts a 95-99 mph fastball as well as a slider and changeup. Based on that profile and his recent track record, he’ll be an intriguing target for clubs in need of starting pitching. That said, Martino notes that industry opinion is mixed on whether he can succeed as an MLB starter.
As for the Mets, it comes as no surprise that they would like to reinforce their rotation. The club’s starters ranked 18th in the majors with a 4.13 ERA in 2025, although they did lead the league with a 49.4% groundball rate. David Peterson, Clay Holmes, and Kodai Senga led the team in innings pitched, although Senga only made 22 starts due to missing a month with a right hamstring strain and being optioned to the minors in September. Peterson was worth 3.1 fWAR this year and is projected to earn $7.6MM in arbitration, while Holmes is under contract for $13MM with a player option for 2027. Beyond those three, the rotation picture is less certain. Frankie Montas declined to opt out of his contract, but he is a candidate to be released since he will miss next season recovering from a UCL surgery in August. Sean Manaea missed most of the season with a right oblique strain and struggled upon his return. Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong all debuted in 2025 and will factor into the rotation, though owner Steve Cohen has never been shy about spending big on free agents. Signing Imai could provide stability in the rotation behind Peterson, Holmes, and Senga while easing the rookies into larger roles.
Yamamoto was two offseasons ago and he used the Mets to pump up the Dodgers offer, how about we don’t do this again
“he used the Mets to pump up the Dodgers offer”
Why do you think that you know this?
Why do you care?
Why do you ask why anyone cares?
Why do you ask why anyone asks why anyone cares? 🤣
I had to ask.
🎶 Why should I worry? Why should I care? I may not have Imai, but I got Met savoir-faire. 🎶
Ha. You win! 😉
What, me worry?
Because the conspiracy theorists gotta conspiracy theory everything.
I just heard this conspiracy theory about conspiracy theorists. Don’t even get me started.
I think it’s pretty clear Yamamoto used the Mets (and the Yankees) to drive up his offer. As all players do and should. I have used leverage to get a better offer. Many of us have.
How is it “pretty clear”?
Go look at the offers at the time, study capitalism and human behavior, sprinkle in some understanding about how negotiations for employment (even for regular folks) is conducted, and then use your ability to reason.
I have
My reason tells me that I wasn’t present in those negotiations
My reason tells me that I don’t know Yoshinobo Yamamoto and don’t have much insight into his actions
My reason tells me that given the two above points. I cannot say with any certainty that Yamamoto did or did not do
He may have “used the Mets to pump up the Dodgers offer”. Sure
He may have had an honest interest in joining the Mets and the Dodgers simply beat the Mets offer or during the discussions he came to realise the Dosgers were the better choice for him
So, I ask again, why does anyone think they know that Yamamoto “used” the Mets as opposed to having a legitimate interest in signing with them?
You’re assuming “used” is a negative term. It doesn’t have to be and it is not. You should leverage offers to get a better offer. He clearly did. And that’s prudent. The Mets offered the same 12 year $325M contract that he signed with the Dodgers. The Yankees offered a 10 year $300M contract. Those numbers are not coincidences. They are the results of negotiations.
“he used the Mets to pump up the Dodgers offer, how about we don’t do this again”
I do not believe that that’s what this was referring to
Mets pitching staff is the worst that I remember and I have been watching since 1967. No Seaver, Ryan (HOFs), Koosman, Gentry, Matlack or Gooden, Cone, Ojeda, Darling et al. Mets SPs couldn’t even pitch 5 Innings per start.
What crap was that?
I was a bit spoiled watching 2 World Series Championships.
It doesn’t get any better than this!
On May 29, 1971, the Mets swept a doubleheader against the Padres thanks to a legendary performance by pitchers Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan, who combined for 26 strikeouts over 18 innings. Seaver won the first game 5-1 with 10 strikeouts, while Ryan pitched the second game to a 2-1 victory with 16 strikeouts.
I have been watching since 1968. This organization once prided itself on its elite starting pitching. Even their 3s and 4s were above average. And surely Cohen remembers those days. Would love to see them honor their past by going all in on SP over the next few years. Let other teams believe that a guy that gets them a quality start is good enough. We want and need elite starters.
AgeeHarrelsonJones,
Sorry to hear that you missed out on Tommy Davis who received standing ovations every time he stepped up to the plate as he was a former Brooklyn Dodger.
At least we have great memories and know how the Game used to be played.
They really just don’t make them like that anymore! Lol. I believe Web was one of maybe a few pitchers to hit 200+ inning this past season.
Off topic but nostalgic. My first visit to Fenway was seeing pitcher Sonny Surgery not only beat the O’s but he hit home runs his first two at bats and missed a third on his next by a few feet (foul).
How memories change. I looked it up. 09/02/71. I didn’t remember also bring a 3-0 shut out. I thought it was 4-1. What I do recall is Boog Powell came up in the ninth with two on and nearly tied it with a check swing out that was caught in the triangle. In today’s game, Siebert would have been lifted after 4 2/3rds and not have gotten the win…
Tommy Davis never played for Brooklyn Dodgers.
He was indeed signed by Brooklyn and played in their minors.
baseball-reference.com/players/d/davisto02.shtml
Robrock30: Great memory. I was about to turn 11 and in Cooperstown the very next day visiting the HOF with my family.
Outside the building was a glass-enclosed display showing game results from the previous day, and I remember seeing the scores from that doubleheader in San Diego.
I watched an old game on YouTube the other night. Cone started the first inning then a 2.5hr rain delay occurred. When the game resumed, Cone was back on the mound and pitched deep into the game.
“What crap was that?”
Entirely on Stearns, who unaccountably had the worst season by any GM in the post-segregation era.
He actually wound up punting the Mets postseason by holding back Nolan McLean until August 16th, when he finally made his first MLB appearance despite (1) pitching like an ace in AAA, and (2) the Mets desperate need for starters, plural.
Stearns did this to suppress McLean’s MLB innings total, to keep him under 50 IP (he pitched 48) so that he’d be eligible in 2026 for a high finish in the ROY voting, which in turn would grant the Mets, if it happens, a tweener pick in the following draft—in short the Mets almost certainly missed the postseason so they could get a pick who might, just might help them in 2032.
Surreal nonsense.
Well there goes my prediction of him to the Twins.
Someone tell Sterns he’s in a big market
Stearns has been asleep for 2 years now, doubt that will change now
He’s either asleep, too annoyed with Cohen for signing Soto and Alonso to function, or we’re finding who was the real power behind the throne in Milwaukee, where the Brewers finished with 97 wins on a $113m payroll.
they had the highest payroll in the history of American sports. he’s well aware
Until the Dodgers in 2025
“He’s in a big market”…I’m pretty sure the record Soto contract, the red hot media attention, the Met’s tax bill and his $50,000 per month rental apartment already told him that.
Someone tell vwsteave that the guy’s name is STEARNS.
They had the 2nd highest payroll in 2025 and right now already have the 2nd highest for 2026.
Comments like this just prove to me that it is never enough for fans.
He’ll be on a plane to Toronto too, I suspect.
There’s a number of mlb players lined up in Canada Customs….been there for days…
how can anyone take the writer of this article seriously when he lists the three people in the rotation and doesn’t mention McLean or the other two rookies?
Don’t be that person. The whole article is about information others are reporting and has nothing to do with who AJ mentions as possible rotation at the end. Not mentioning McLean does not mean the speculation about Imai by another writer is wrong
It does not, but it is quite the oversight.
Things have gone so well with senga, mets wanna get imai now?
There is no way he gets 150 million. Hes going to get closer to what Senga got if anything. Honestly, I don’t even want him, would rather they make a trade for Peralta, Skubal, Greene, or Luis Castilllo, if any of those guys are even available
I wouldn’t be so sure. After Yamamoto willed LA to a repeat, people will be chasing the next big thing.
If by thing you mean talented players who win baseball games, then yes — this is what teams have always chased. Well, the ones that want to win, anyway.
Makes sense. NYM probably good for 2 SP’s off the contest list unless they swing a trade for rental Skubal Tigers can’t pass up or perhaps Ryan from Twins as 1 of their additions.
Everyone is interested in him. For the right price.
Headlines like these are a joke. Non-news.
Pretty sure every team in baseball is interested in one of the best pitchers in NPB who is only going to be 28 for the 2026 season.
The Mets will probably offer the most, but it will depend on the level of interest the Dodgers have, if any, as to whether they sign him, or not.
Welcome to the Dodgers Mr Imai. We all know how this story ends. He will use the Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Phillies, Red Sox and others to get what he wants from LAD so he can join his fellow countrymen.
I don’t see where the Dodgers would fit him between Ohtani, Yama, Glasnow, Snell, and Sasaki. Why would he want to sign there unless they commit to Sasaki as a closer and punt Tanner Scott to set-up?
The Dodgers are already loaded with starting pitching options, especially at the bottom end of the rotation and swingman, the place where it seems Imai is most likely to slot in MLB. I see their interest level as being quite low.
They were already loaded last year and still added Snell and Sasaki. Do not be surprised if they add this guy as well.
Stearns needs to aim higher…
The Mets should wait until next offseason for Skubal like they did with Soto. In the meantime try and trade for Ryan or Alacantra. Can’t hold on to all these prospects forever. Not paying big $ long term deals for 1 of these 29-30 year old free agents.
@Seaver Rules Joe Ryan is overated
The dodgers will sign everyone
Rich get richer and the poor get a little bit worse!!
He seems to be trending in the right direction as far as strikeouts, walks, and innings pitched. He also threw 5 complete games last year, 3 of which were shutouts. He won’t be 28 until May, so he should be coming into his prime. He is on the smaller side, only 5′ 11” and 154 lbs, but there have been other smaller pitchers who have been very successful. He doesn’t come with a QO as the other top FA starters do. How will his stuff play here, and is he worth taking a $150 million (plus the posting fee) risk? And is it worth getting into a bidding war with the Dodgers? If I’m the Mets, I’d lean toward yes on the latter two questions.
The way MLBTR projects contracts for posted players has always been odd. If the projection is for $150M, why does this not include the posting fee? The price to the signing MLB team includes this fee, which certainly the bidding teams are figuring in their costs when they make their offers. So why it is treated like a tack-on here?
Good point. There is a decent chunk that would need to be added to his cost.
It’s like buying a car and pretending that the total cost is the sticker price, even though it doesn’t include sales tax, registration and delivery.
Cause the player doesn’t get it, they predict player contracts not total costs. Same reason they don’t figure in Cali state taxes or endorsements or CB taxes for teams.
Makes no sense. The cost is still the cost, no matter who gets what part of it.
oh come on.. are they really going to do this again?? They need someone to front their rotation.
Correction every team is interested in Imai
Mets should definitely run a 6 man rotation. Senga-Manea-Peterson-Holmes-McLean-Sproat. That gives them Tong in AAA. Could add a couple depth arms or go big and shift Holmes to a swing role. Will keep the innings down for everyone, especially the youngsters.
The idea that the first four will be both healthy and effective is wildly optimistic.
The Mets will have to assume at least one of the four isn’t worth pitching every fifth (or sixth) day, and it could easily be two.
Peterson had a dead arm for the last 1/3 of the season and was terrible. Manaea was terrible and is now 34. Holmes pitched 2x+ was many innings as his career high, and Senga was abysmal or out the last 3-1/2 months of the season. If you’re going to go with a 6-man, figure two of these will not be worth pitching.
Not to mention, there will be injuries. And did i mention, that there’ll be injuries?
Sacramento A’s. All they need is pitching and they are finally willing to spend money. Vegas A’s World Series champs in 2028