The Saitama Seibu Lions announced (Japanese language link) on their official team website that they have accepted Tatsuya Imai’s request to be posted to Major League teams. Once Imai is officially posted, he’ll have 45 days to work out a contract with a big league team, or else he’ll return to the Lions for the 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball season.
It has been over two months since reports first surfaced about the likelihood of Imai’s availability this winter, and today’s news officially confirms the three-time NPB All-Star as one of the most intriguing arms of the 2025-26 free agent class. Imai has a 3.15 ERA over 963 2/3 career innings with the Lions, with a 22.31% strikeout rate and a 11.52% walk rate. While that career walk rate is on the high side, Imai has reduced that number in each of his last four seasons, and he had a very solid 7.02% walk rate over 163 2/3 innings in 2025.
Imai is only 27, and doesn’t turn 28 until May. Between his age and an intriguing four-pitch arsenal (headlined by a fastball in the 95-99mph range and a plus slider), there’s a lot to like in terms of how Imai’s success in NPB might translate against Major League hitters. This upside led MLBTR to place Imai seventh on our list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, and we’re predicting a six-year, $150MM deal even though some evaluators feel Imai projects as a back-end starter or even as a reliever in the majors.
Imai qualifies for full free agency next offseason, so the Lions may feel that they can at least earn some money back via a posting fee by letting Imai go now rather than 12 months from now. As per the terms of the MLB-NPB posting system, any Major League team that reaches an agreement with Imai will owe the Lions a staggered fee depending on the size of the deal, and on any future earnings (i.e. options, bonuses, etc.) attached to that initial contract.
The Lions will get 20% of the contract’s first $25MM, 17.5% of the contract’s next $25MM, and 15% of any money above the $50MM mark. So if Imai were to sign a deal matching MLBTR’s $150MM projection, his new team would owe the Lions a $24.375MM posting fee on top of Imai’s $150MM salary.
Dodgers most likely. Maybe Giants? Mets? Probably West Coast though.
Sigh
Seems like a giants signing because this guy might not be good enough to be a starter or reliever for the dodgers
Dodgers don’t every Japanese player! Red Sox!
Why, because the Dodgers need starting pitching?
Because every Japanese player of any value wants to play for the Dodgers. Some of you act like we haven’t sat back and watched the last half dozen top-flight Japanese players all go to Los Angeles to play for the Dodgers without hesitation. But I want all of these Japanese players to sign with the Dodgers. Because the system is broken and it needs to be fixed in the next CBA. There needs to be some sort of waiver system with international players who come to MLB. Give the claiming team three or four years of control and then let the player sign wherever they want afterwards. This notion that Japanese league service time should count in the majors is hysterical. It’s apples and oranges with these professional leagues. It’s not the same whatsoever and it shouldn’t be treated as the same.
Outside of Yamamoto, who weighed many options and offers, and Sasaki, who is a when in progress, what other Japanese player has signed with the Dodgers out of Japan?
This. But the math-challenged now have the floor. So let’s see if they can prove that 2+2=5.
OK fine, don’t count Ohtani then because technically he came from Anaheim.
Not technically, factually. He played six seasons for the Angels, which is actually longer than he played in NPB.
FFS. Do your research before you go spouting off about something you’re clearly uneducated on. here’s the full list of players the Dodgers signed directly out of Japan this century.
2025- Yamamoto
2024- Sasaki
2016- Maeda
2008- Kuroda
2006- Saito
Since 2017, your club has signed just as many Japanese players. Congratulations!
FFS. Do your research before you go spouting off about something you’re clearly uneducated on. here’s the full list of players the Dodgers signed directly out of Japan this century.
2025- Sasaki
2024- Yamamoto
2016- Maeda
2008- Kuroda
2006- Saito
Since 2017, your club has signed just as many Japanese players. Congratulations!
The NL did not have the DH position for Ohtani. You believe he still signs with the Angels if they did?
What Japanese players have the Yankees signed since Tanaka in 2014?
If that was the structure then few top players from Japan would come stateside.
It takes like 9 seasons in NPB to achieve full FA status. Prior to that their teams can post them to take their cut. What team would ever post guys for no return? These guys should then slog away there until they reach FA if they have aspirations to play in the US and see their earnings potential sink as they age then take the majors minimum for 3 more years?
Your club (Cubs) has signed 2 higher cost Japanese FAs in the last few years. You must be in the owner’s family to take this stance.
Replying to CubFan36 take here
Everybody needs more starting pitching.
Theres alotta japanese players posting this offseason
Dodgers cant possibly sign all of em!
They’ll easily sign any of them they want. That’s the problem.
They have turned the Dodgers into a place players want to play. If you watch interviews from Dodgers and non Dodgers players, it’s frequently mentioned.
They’ve worked hard on clubhouse culture, weeding out bad fits, and doing everything they possibly can to promote winning in terms of training, coaching, etc.
Of course they are one of the top places players want to be, outside of monetary or personal preferences.
Well now it’s because they have all the best Japanese players on the same team. The point is the Dodgers can hand-choose any Japanese player they want. They should not have that advantage. No team should have that advantage. International free agency needs to be eliminated.
Interesting. So the Cubs only signed Suzuki and Imanaga because the Dodgers didn’t want them? Is that your theory?
If they wanted either of them, they would’ve gotten them. That’s exactly what I’m saying.
CubFan36
That’s not a problem, that’s a result.
All of this is the result of Japanese players getting major league service time for seasons they completed overseas. They gotta fix it.
They are playing in a professional league that isn’t a minor league affiliate.
Why wouldn’t they accumulate professional time in those leagues?
All of what? Fix what? Why?
Orioles dip their toes in the NPB pool 2 years in a row?!
Sugano worked out pretty good for the Orioles and Imai looks better.
No he didn’t lol He got rocked a lot ! He’s pushing 40 so hes not worth much
He pitched perfectly fine as a number 5 starter – the issue was that they were looking at him as more of a 2 or 3
I e been saying this for a while now, he just makes too much sense for the Orioles
Yep, very much agree, provided Elias and Co. like what they see from him.
At worst he’ll be a solid number 3 and more than likely he’ll reach his ceiling as a very consistent number 2
Heard he was on a flight to Toronto.
(There….I said it)
….at least going there to pick up a free hat
Pffft too far north, Think red
Japan to Cincinnati pipeline
No chance Cincy spends >$100M on any player.
The whole of the Reds organization so badly wanted Akiyama to hit a HR – would have been a feel good moment for all, at a time of angst.
Alas, just a lot of Warning Track shots…
It’s not always the Dodgers but I can see both the Padres and Giants making an offer.
I see the Giants being on this. Desperate for some pitching
They said they probably won’t go nine figures for a P….
Yeah, they say a lot of things.
Here’s a little known fact – on the Japanese version of the X platform, the absolute go-to for Japan, there are hundreds of videos and thousands of comments which profile San Francisco at its Fentanyl Fold worst. I know this as my wife is Japanese and a world traveler; she clued me in.
It might help the SF reputation for The City govt. to create a positive image campaign for Japanese X…
You’re talking about a lot of cities right there. Not to say you’re wrong, but SF has many more problems than just that. You’re right it may help though
Future Dodger?
This comment might look really bad after this season but he might be the next imanaga and could do really well
Mets, Angels, A’s, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Orioles and Cubs would make sense as suitors. All need pitching and should have payroll room for a move. Imai’s age fits the windows well for each of them.
Not needed in Toronto.
@bestone
Your arrogance is a perfect example of why Toronto lost
What?
nva84….
?
A back end or RP is not needed….not a good fit.
Rather have Bassit and Scherzer return.
bestone, I don’t understand how you say a back end starter isn’t needed and then suggest Scherzer or Bassitt.
I’m also curious why you think Imai is capped as a back end starter. That seems to be the lowest end of the spectrum as an outcome.
Maybe the Jays need more certainty towards the front of the rotation because Gausman is getting older and we don’t really know yet what Yesavage might do over a full season. But they should probably get someone on a multiyear deal if they don’t want to have to remake the majority of the rotation in one offseason next year. Maybe Cease, Valdez, Suarez are better. Higher floor at the least. Even if you think the King, Giolito, Woodruff tier is better than Imai, almost every team needs pitching so you aren’t guaranteed to land your preferred choice. Scherzer and Bassitt don’t have near the ceiling of Imai. Scherzer doesn’t even have the floor.
KamKid….sometimes what you know is better than the unknown….just thinking…
Also “just tired” of the wishful thinking…and ultimate letdown after the Dodgers sign anyone of faint interest
Jays need a number 1 starter if they want to return to the World Series. A starter is needed, whether this guy is the guy to get or not is the question.
That was my thought as well. They already have plenty of capable mid-rotation starters. They need a number 1 or at least a number 2 type.
If some scouts project this guy to be a reliever or a back of the rotation guy, then he may not the right player for them to target.
Jays92 if they are correct in their scouting it screams Yariel vibes.
Angels have a window?
Not really, but they certainly have to hope and plan to contend within the next 6 years or so which would be the Imai contract length while still only being 34.
I think the Angels would make a lot of sense for Murakami for similar reasons. They need more long term players to build around. The only foundational piece they have is Zach Neto with a weak farm system too.
The Angels have such a good reputation with Japanese players…
I mean the Dodgers don’t need another starting pitcher, the Giants have less of a history with Japanese players and are afraid of long term deals to pitchers, the A’s play in a AAA park and the Mariners are not going to pay market for a pitcher. The Angels are the cleanest west coast fit which tends to be a big advantage in pursuing Japanese players.
A lot of the same applies to Murakami. Dodgers already have DH/1B occupied for a while and Muncy for 3B. Giants have Chapman, Devers and Eldridge. A’s have all of their infield prospects. M’s focus is on Naylor and contact.
San Diego might be possible. Preller might go crazy, again.
They need it, but not sure they have anything to spend.
DH
I disagree that the Ms won’t pay market price for a pitcher if one was needed. We have Evans Emerson Anderson ( who I hope makes it out of ST with the team) Cintje need to learn to spell his name. We have a lot of guys to fill in.
I believe we trade Castillo because of the money and have guts a lot cheaper who can fill in for him. Anderson is the guy who if makes it will be the best fit. Need a lefty.
For pitchers we need a couple relievers but you are right that we won’t pay that price for a reliever. I get a feeling Kirby wants to head East and play closer to home. We should see what value he has now against what he will have next year.
We also need to sign Gilbert long term. He said in an interview after Cal signed he was willing to negotiate a new contract. It is time for them to start looking at that. Don’t want to wait until he is a FA too many teams would be willing to pay for his services. If we ended up with Gilbert Woo Miller Anderson and Evans that seems like a decent starting 5. I think Cintje needs to move to the pen. Will be interesting to see how his style works in MLB.
Gilbert, Woo, Miller, Anderson and Evans is a solid 2028 rotation, but not 2026.
I think Castillo has a shot to be traded, but they won’t move Kirby this year when he is only making $6M. Next offseason becomes when we might trade him as he’d be down to two years of control left and we will have seen how ready Evans, Anderson, Cijinte and Morales are to be relied in the rotation. Sloan would also have an outside chance to be a factor in 2027.
I do agree that they should look to extend Gilbert this offseason. I’d love a Gilbert Woo rotation foundation for the long term.
Red Sox book it Dano
Orioles or Redsox could get this guy but the Cubs & Giants also seem like a good fit.
Be an interesting middle of the rotation option. I’d like to see the Sox try to get him
Be nice to slot him somewhere behind Kikuchi and give him a built in mentor.
But Arte doesn’t spend on pitching.
I was going to say that the Mariners might be interested however the Mariners pitching is so solid already. Mariners also have few weaknesses, which is why they won the AL West and were just a few outs from the World Series.
They don’t win the west last season if Houston was healthy.
And now Houston is losing Framber and an old lineup is getting older. A healthy Houston may be impossible at this stage given the players they have.
Kershaw replacement
That would be Skubal or Skenes.
Yanks should sign him and ignore stupid trade ideas from fans
Can’t agree here. Is Imai better than any of the Yanks starters? With Cole, Fried, Rodon, Gil, Warren, Schlittler, and TJ’d Schmitt all under control for 2 or more years (3 of them won’t be ready for the season start but 2 likely by end of May) plus some top prospects already in AA another long term high $ deal for a starter isn’t their biggest need.
Tell that to all the fan sites that want to trade the Yankees star youth for some over rated overpaid pitcher
New Dodgers Starter. If he’s only just good, Dodgers BP
Orioles better make a serious run at him. He fits them perfectly and they need pitching that doesn’t require giving up any picks. Get him and go after another starter that’s not connected to a QO.
Japanese player being posted for MLB is no longer an exciting news for the fans of non-California teams. Why not – Cali teams are very rich, on west coast, sunny weathers, and close to Disneyland.
That exactly why you shouldn’t want a salary cap either. If the salary is equal players are inevitably going to choose the places with better weather or tax situations etc. it’s hilarious that fans of Milwaukee, Minnesota or Cincinnati want a cap to me.
True revenue sharing of ALL revenues would go along with a cap, which goes along with a floor on those cases.
So do the clubs this benefits compensate the large market clubs for the lost franchise value this would lead to? Somehow I never see this mentioned by those taking this position. Those owners are just supposed to say “no problem”?
The analogy is often to the NFL – with 17 games once a week compared to MLBs 162 with games 6 days a week and a revenue profile skewed to TV with no local broadcasting. Talk about apples & oranges
Delusional
Make sure you spit in the face of every past present and future mlb player too. They all inevitably will have it lost millions fighting against a cap
No fan should want a salary cap. MLB already has the revenue sharing system it wants. The only purpose of a salary cap is to squeeze the players.
Outside of West Coast, Florida has Disney world, no taxes, and good weather.
So it’s the West Coast thing?
Phillytime!
….yeah I know
While his career ERA is 3.15, he has been considerably better than that the last few years. From 2023 to 2025 his ERA has been 2.30, 2.32, and 1.92.
I wonder why some scouts project him to be a reliever? Sort of surprising since he has 4 pitches.
Depends on those pitches. If two are considered plus then that fits more of a reliever profile.
Consistent K% throughout his career but he seems to have fixed some of his control issues with his BB% dropping the past 2 seasons. Have to remember with NPB, they’re in a bit of a dead ball era right now. I’d consider him a back of the rotation guy or multi-inning bullpen piece and see where it goes.
Only teams with rich local tv can sign top free agents . The rest fan dual and mlb tv teams wait for the waiver wire scraps .
Yeah like Chris Taylor, Max Muncy, Justin Turner, etc.
that is a wild projection. I hope the Rangers stay far away. everyone out of Japan this year is projected to make way too much
Why do these players who never played in MLB get to skip draft and sign contracts for so much more than players that go thru our MLB draft.
because they are ALL signed with an NPB team. They are not eligible for the draft. Murakami is a free agent, and Okamoto and Imai are posted, which is the only way they would consider moving to other leagues and countries. They are not poor people, they are already rich.
They have to be at least 25 before they are not subject to international signing bonuse limits. At 25 Even a North American player wouldn’t have to go through the draft if they had not already signed with an mlb team.
Maybe he pans out, maybe he doesn’t. Either way, based on Yamamoto and Sasaki’s postseason success…some team is about to overpay.
Cubs could offer a similar but longer deal to what they offered Imanaga. Make it 3/57 guaranteed, with a mutual option team 3/70 and player 2/30.
Since I think Imanaga will accept the QO, Imai fills a RH pitching need and sets up a rotation of Horton, Boyd, Imai, Imanaga, Taillon, and Steele/Rea.
Red Sox are flush with cash. Hard to see them getting outbid if they go all in.