The next couple days will see at least two big-ticket free agents come off the board. Japanese stars Tatsuya Imai and Kazuma Okamoto are nearing the end of their respective 45-day posting windows. Imai has until Friday at 4:00 pm Central to sign; Okamoto’s contract must be finalized by the same time on Sunday.
Reporting out of Japan over the weekend revealed that Okamoto was traveling to the U.S. for a final round of in-person meetings. Imai is evidently doing the same. Katie Woo and Will Sammon of The Athletic wrote last night that Imai had spoken with multiple teams and would continue to do so throughout the week. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com relays that Imai and Okamoto — both of whom are represented by the Boras Corporation — are conducting in-person interviews in Los Angeles (link via MLB.com’s Brian Murphy). Scott Boras is based out of Southern California, so the location of the meetings shouldn’t be viewed as an indication that the Dodgers or Angels are favorites.
Imai has been publicly tied to the Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies and Orioles since his posting period began. While a recent Yahoo! Japan article listed the White Sox as another possibility, MLB.com’s report downplays the likelihood of the White Sox landing the right-hander. Chicago shockingly added Munetaka Murakami last week, but that only came after the slugger’s market cratered because of concerns about his strikeout rate. Murakami wound up settling for a two-year, $34MM contract. Imai is expected to do far better given the cost of high-upside starting pitching.
The 5’11” righty has been one of Japan’s best pitchers over the past two seasons. He’s coming off a 1.92 ERA showing with 178 strikeouts across 163 2/3 innings. Imai has an NPB-best 27% strikeout rate since the start of 2024. He sits in the mid-90s with a promising slider. Command was an issue earlier in his career, but his strike-throwing has progressed as he has gained experience. This past season’s 7% walk rate was a personal low and better than the MLB average.
Imai is headed into his age-28 season. His contract needs to be finalized by Friday, so it’s likely he’ll agree to terms by tomorrow or Thursday. That’d leave time for a standard physical. The team that signs him will owe a posting fee to the Seibu Lions. That’s proportional to the contract value: 20% of the first $25MM, 17.5% of the next $25MM, and 15% of all further spending.
Imai opinion, he’s gonna sign with the Cubs.
I’m AI and I agree
My Imai what a wonderful day.
Boooo
The fact that hes not a yankee after it being so quit, makes me wanna hate cash that much more.
I also agree.
Tatsuya Imai to the Cubs with some opt-outs.
The Imanaga contract is a blueprint for what the Cubs will offer. Maybe a little longer and a little higher AAV based on age, but the Cubs are the most likely team to let him opt-out after 2027 or 2028.
Imai or mai not sign with the Cubbies.
Sometime tomorrow between 2 pm and 5 pm West Coast time.
If I had to put money on it, I’d probably put it down on the Cubs. It makes a lot of sense for them, and some for Imai as he wouldn’t be the only Japanese player.
@hyrax
Yes, when talking about a contract worth millions, players are most concerned about whether there is someone of the same ethnicity on the team.
Aloha Ryan!
成功を望んでいます, Seikou o nozondeimasu: I hope!
Shinnen Omedetou Gozaimasu, Happy New Year! Mahalo!
Take it easy
Agree with this.
Phillies should give him whatever he wants; certainly no reason to expect Wheeler to ever be as good again and they will sell so much merchandise and get lots of Japanese ad revenue.
I’d like the Phillies to sign him, but Imai is not viewed as highly as Yamamoto and certainly not Wheeler either. So there should be some limits on the offer.
Imai take a guess and say he signs with the Dodgers. 100% deferred because they can.
I think they have to pay him at least the MLB minimum each season.
He’s already said he’s more interested in beating the Dodgers and facing Ohtani than joining them. I don’t think he’s the kind of guy to join a superteam.
Sounds like he should join the Angels, they have no problem beating the Dodgers.
@chalk
he also says he wanted to beat the Dodgers and win a WS. I don’t think anyone is that optimistic about the Angels in the next 5 years.
Yeah I’d say more likely the Giants. Same division, biggest rival, on the rise, etc.
he’s stated:
I want to take them down.”
“With the number of pitchers they already have, they don’t need me.” (After the Edwin Diaz signing)
“I think beating a team like that and becoming world champions would be the most valuable thing in my life.”
He expressed interest in overcoming cultural challenges alone, preferring not to join a team with other Japanese players, and wanted to test himself against Shohei Ohtani.
Knicks – Sounds admirable, but he could also just want to be a big fish in a little pond.
I didn’t say he didn’t. I just stated that he said he doesn’t want to go to the Dodgers which is what @playhard suggested.
He said going to the dodgers wasn’t his preference. I haven’t seen anything where he said he didn’t want to be a Dodger.
I’m curious to see what teams are willing to sign him that he thinks are a WS winning team with him on it. We should know in a few days.
‘He said it wasn’t his preference. I haven’t seen anything where he said he didn’t want to’
That’s some serious word salad.
He never said specifically he didn’t want to play for the Dodgers.
He said it they didn’t need him, and he would like to to take them down and win a WS.
I would imagine if the Dodgers made him a hefty offer he would be ok playing with other Japanese players. But they likely won’t.
@Knicks-He sounded perfect for the Yankees, talking like that. Oh well. Maybe the Mutts will sign him last minute instead?
The Dodgers don’t defer contracts, the players and their agents do.
That seems like that’s all they do. Smh
Nah, there are still plenty of players and agents that don’t want to defer their contracts.
I had a vision. Hal told Boras he doesn’t want to be used to fund up the price and to go out and get the best offer possible and circle back to him before he signs. Yanks get all three of Bellinger, Okamato and Imai. Hal reminds the world that he’s George’s son and screams “It ain’t tricking if you got it” to small market teams.
Hope it comes to fruition, fun stuff
You should write novels with that imagination.
@Terry
I do. Romance novels under my pseudonym, Dick Savage.
Any pseudo relation to Richard Wild, or Rod Primal?
I had a vision. Dodgers got word about Hal talking to Boras, and told Boras they’ll pay more for those three than any other team but the Yankees. Yankees overpay for all three, make the playoffs, and get bounced in the wildcard round by the A’s.
Then I stopped typing and got back to reality.
I’ll say this, if we somehow get Imai and Okamoto, I’d be fine with letting Belli go and getting a Hays to go with Jasson in left. Or heck just giving Jones a go from the jump.
Sal- how bout Bader instead of Hays? I heard Harrison comes with a free walking boot.
I think Bader is looking for full time work and I’m not sure the Yankees have that for other than Belli (or ), doubtful, Tucker).
Knicks- Take out Okamato, and put in the Dominguez reliever from Toronto. And then I love your vision.
That’s a lot of upside.
I know the White Sox are a long shot, but it’d make sense to sign another Japanese player, someone who shares a language and culture with Mune so they can help each other adapt. It would also further improve the Sox’ marketing efforts in Japan. Like I said, a long shot, but I think it’d be a smart play. Too bad Jerry’s not known for making those.
It would be a smart move but Imai’s comments so far suggest he wants to go to an immediate contender. My guess is the Cubs with the Phillies and Yankees in the race.
The Phillies and Yankees have spent their money and have little left. The Cubs won’t spend theirs.
He wants to beat the Dodgers.. a healthy Atlanta team does that.. add him
A healthy Dodgers team beats Atlanta any time.
They didn’t beat them in 2021 😆😅
Way to go back 4 years, bruh.
Imai to the A’s. Fight me 🙂
Actually not a bad landing spot for a team on the west coast who needs to make a splash. And he’ll have plenty of run support. Congrats Sir/Madam. Well done!
They need good starting pitching and that would certainly send a message to the rest of the AL West that they are contenders.
I wouldn’t be mad. It makes good business sense for the A’s as well. New ballpark, vacation travel destination, and a chance to create a Japanese marketing opportunity? There are definitely worse ideas.
Both Top 20 free agents on the MLBTR rankings, nice to know we’ll have some news to talk about soon.
I know for a fact that Getz is meeting him in LA, and they have been in talks. He told the whitesox he would love to play in Chicago for the whitesox. Whitesox said they can offer only 3 years, and he replied that is not a problem. Here is the kicker, he also told the whitesox that he prefers to play for them over all other teams. This will be interesting
Grew up a huge Magglio Ordoñez fan, did he?
@sorengo
I don’t think even Magglio Ordonez Jr grew up a Magglio Ordonez fan. Besides, Imai already said he prefers to join a team that DOESN’T already have a Japanese player because he wants the challenge of learning the culture on his own. That might destroy my own wet dream of the Yanks signing both him and Okamato.
I read that they’ve emerged as the frontrunners to sign him.
Signing two Japan stars would give the Sox a B grade at minimum plus it would be interesting to see them expand their fanbase to Japan.
Interestingly enough, Mune’s manager was Shingo Takatsu, an early Sox signing. Guessing his glowing recommendation of his time in Chicago was influential in his decision to sign with the Sox.
It’s gotta be the Mets, right?
Facts! Lol Mets gotta jump on them
Stearns sign Imai and Okamoto, the Mets can use both, let’s GO
I love the idea but I think they’ve said, unofficially and through mouthpieces, that they’re out on Okamoto.
Could be bs, could be legit, could be for Imai… who had previously ALSO said he thought playing on a team with no other Japanese players would be more of a way to challenge himself.
What do about Senga then?
You can never have too much pitching.
That’s true but there’s only so many roster spots and options years with a team that already has 10 SPs under contract
The Mets have that many starting pitchers under contract?
Yeah it’s crazy, they have 10 signed and maybe another 2-3 who have potential to make the jump to MLB in 2025.
I honestly had no idea and appreciate the information. Why do they want Imai then? He’s projected to be a middle of the rotation arm.
I think they’re hoping to move Senga and/or Peterson which would alleviate some of that
I don’t know if they can move Senga at that price. I guess it depends on how creative Stearns is.
There’s 3 MLB teams in Southern California, not 2 . Glad I could help your writers out
Why would they count the Angels?
There are*
Glad I could help you out.
Padres make a lot of sense for Imai. Although they do have a rehabbing Darvish.
Release – Somewhere Pedro (5’11”) and Flash Gordon (5’9″) and Lincecum (5’11”) and Wagner (5’10”) are smiling.
Rare examples only prove the rule. In fact it’s a huge concern, which teams have noted. He also has an odd, high effort delivery and two developed pitches. Buyer beware. I personally think he’s a reliever.
Not to mention Yamamoto at 5’10” and 176lbs.
If Imai wants to beat the Dodgers, then he’s got to want to be a Padre or a Giant, right? Both have the ability to sign him.
As for Okamoto, the Mariners would be the dark horse here if they think he can play 3B/DH, if it weren’t for Boras .(who only has one player, Randy Arozarena, currently signed with the M’s).
Get the picture here Japan – none of these USA MLB teams give a flying F about you.
What does that even mean? What does Jane to do with the country of Japan?
Im not sure the talent pool is as good as ohtani is making it seem
Dodgers care about the Japanese market. Maybe less for the country itself. Which makes sense if you’re a for profit company.
Are teams supposed to care about every country every player comes from?
True… Ill be waiting for an impact bat from asia other than ohtani let’s just put it that way
There have been some excellent asian hitters. Just like any player that’s done well in AAA or overseas, you never know how they’ll adjust to major league pitching.
It’s all about having the ability to make adjustments once the league figures you out. Hitting or pitching.
Name one
There’s this Ichiro Suzuki guy you may have heard about…
The real question is:
How much does he pay the Tigers to be on a roster with Tarik Skubal?
I’d love to see that for the Tigers. Give that city a season with a legit chance at something special.
it would be cool if they signed him. Show some foresight with Skubal, Mize and Flaherty’s contracts up next year. That would give them a base of Imai, Jobe, Olsen and Melton next year…and hopefully Skubal too when they resign him!
The future ace of the Colorado Rockies???
Boras office is in Fashion Island in Newport Beach. Nice place and just a couple of miles from John Wayne airport which has an excellent executive area for private planes.
Love or hate him he lives the life and has the pull to make the teams literally come to him.
Well, the most likely to overpay for a top three pitcher on their team… the Giants and they should really benefit from signing him. West coast team with strong Japanese community but no current players on the roster from Japan, plenty of opportunities to face the Dodgers, decent chance to make the playoffs, plenty of room before the first tax threshold so they can “afford” him. Would love to see him on the Padres but I doubt it at this stage now that they signed King.
The Tax threshold and the Giants budget may have little to do with each other. Their budget is more important.
I guess it’s their budget then that fans have an issue with given how much they’re profiting. Imai is the perfect fit for the Giants. He’s a middle of the rotation guy, connects us with Japan, and we wouldn’t have to give up draft picks.
If they don’t go for him or framber Valdez it shows they’re not serious about giving fans a winning product. Why add Devers, Adames, and Chapman and then not fill out the rotation? We just need one more solid SP.
Since his best offers were from the A’s and Rockies, he decided he’ll be better off signing with LSU for more money.
I hear the Savanah Bananas offer more opportunity…
The SB are not worried about his height. They will just give him stilts!
I’m enjoying this off-season so far. Looking forward to seeing how Imai does in free agency and in season.
There was a Christmas day signing, so why not a new years eve signing? Unless they are doing national holidays exclusively and waiting for new years day.
The popcorn is popcorning.
That’d be a great addition to any team. That’d be something I’m interested in seeing where he goes. That’d seems strange.
Imai personal opinion he goes to Padres.
And then they’d trade Pivetta to the Mets. Imairight?
Me thinks he’s coming to NY and will announce where he’s bringing his talents at the Times Square ball drop….
Pirates….Skenes, Imai and Jones. Flashback to the old days of 1-0 and 2-1 victories.
Would definitely make the Pirates more interesting and they have all that left over cash in the vault from not getting Schwarber.
And in the very predictable category, Boras uses his favorite soapbox, Jon Heyman to give Mets and Yankees the “Worst offseason” award to shame them into bidding on or signing Boras clients…
Let’s not kid ourselves, Imai is going to the Dodgers!
On deferrals of course!
I really think this player, Tatsuro Yamashita, would maybe benefit a bit more as a closer? Like could the Mets sign him for 50 million for 4 years and use him as a swing man/spot starter or high leverage reliever if he didn’t pan out as a starter?
Advantage Tigers on both players.
It’s just a matter IF Harris understands his leverage and has interest spurned by the owner…….
There was talk when Sasaki was available that Detroit was trying to make inroads into the Japanese pipeline. Their last foray didn’t work out so well, but I’d be okay if they signed them both.
Right I don’t understand why we ain’t being mentioned in the running for both of these guys when we need both positions ect
Please sign already so Muncy can go deep multiple times in a game.
Feels like he’s going to get around the same AAV as Imanaga