Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Imai’s posting deadline approaches:
NPB right-hander Tatsuya Imai is entering the final days of his posting window and figures to sign with an MLB club any day now. Imai, 27, is among the more intriguing starters on the market this offseason coming off back-to-back seasons for the Seibu Lions where he posted dominant numbers. The righty was connected to the Cubs, Mets, Phillies, and Yankees among other clubs in the early weeks of the offseason but the rumor mill has been relatively quiet in the aftermath of the Winter Meetings earlier this month. How his market has developed in the weeks since that early interest from teams is unclear, but it seems reasonable to expect more information on the bidding for Imai’s services to become available any day now with his posting window set to wrap up at 4pm CT on January 2.
2. Okamoto begins meeting with teams:
The posting deadline for NPB infielder Kazuma Okamoto isn’t coming up quite as soon as Imai’s, as Okamoto doesn’t have to sign until January 4. Even so, rumors regarding the infielder’s future have been far more common in recent weeks as he comes off an elite (albeit injury-shortened) campaign with the Yomiuri Giants in 2025. Okamoto has been tied to the Pirates frequently this offseason, though connections have also been drawn between the 29-year-old and teams like the Angels, Padres, Red Sox, and Blue Jays. The latest reporting on Okamoto indicates that he’s headed to the U.S. for in-person meetings with teams, and a deal figures to come together quickly from there with less than a week remaining in his posting window.
3. Orioles continue to bolster rotation:
The Orioles re-signed right-hander Zach Eflin to a one-year deal over the weekend, and yesterday reporting indicated that a return to the mound by Opening Day is on the table for the righty even after he underwent season-ending back surgery back in August. That’s notable news not only because it suggests Eflin’s recovery from that procedure is going well, but also because it leaves Baltimore with a potential Opening Day rotation of Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Eflin, and Dean Kremer with further depth behind those five arms. That’s a playable rotation that figures to be a significant upgrade over last year’s Opening Day quintet, but it lacks the sort of surefire front-of-the-rotation addition many expected from Baltimore this offseason. The addition of a more proven arm like Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez from here could certainly still be in the cards, but at this point it’s at least feasible that Baltimore will walk away from the offseason with only modest rotation upgrades and first baseman Pete Alonso as their big addition.
Imai will sign but not for the length everyone thought. Same with Okamoto.
Where Imai at? Is he goin’ back to Japan? Hearing Padres, Phillies, Mutts, or my Cubs now in the lead. Where Ca$hman at?
Imai is getting paid well. He is better than Dylan Cease.
Look at what the other starting pitchers have received. The only questions is how many years, and I think it will be plenty.
Hey, even guys like Giolito and Quintana will get big bucks on short contracts.
I personally believe that Imai could have a ceiling at the Dylan Cease level. however, it’s really pretty hard to defend that versus the track record that Dylan has already laid down. we just don’t know how he’ll translate to the MLB, and using other Japanese NPB comparables is similar to saying all Americans like meatloaf.
@MLB Top 100:
-Imai is getting paid well. He is better than Dylan Cease.-
Absolutely no proof of that exists in MLB.
@99 I wouldn’t count the Giants out.
Boras will have egg on his face & his reputation will take a hit if he can’t deliver the ridiculous ACE $$$ & years he’s asking
Steamer rates Imai as #2-#3 SP. No way Imai is the ACE for teams Boras says are interested in him
Imai has been quoted as saying he hasn’t received any concrete offers. That may an indication that Imai may end of signing a deal similar to Murakami or risk having to return to Japan for another year
Rw
“Boras will have egg on his face & his reputation will take a hit”
LOL
People are crazy
But “Beer is Good”
well that can go without saying. but how about meatloaf?
I think teams don’t want to pay big posting fees. Leading to shorter and or option heavy deals
At 5’11” tall and 154 lbs. I think Imai will likely struggle with a starter’s full season workload pitching every 5th day. Yes, teams can give him extra days off, but if teams think he may wind up in the bullpen or miss time, I’m guessing it will lower their offers.
He may struggle but pedro Martinez Nestor Cortez and Marcus stroman all stick out as pitchers under 6 feet who have had moments where the were really effective. I understand what you are saying tho
@all
he’s thrown 173 IP before. I don’t the think 1 less rest day will matter.
That’s what the Dodgers thought about Pedro Martinez when they decided to include him in a trade with the Expos. Short, skinny, arm won’t hold up to the rigors of being a starter. Not saying Imai is even near Pedro talent, but I wouldn’t sell him short just because of his stature
Anything is possible. It will be interesting to see how it goes. I think it’s more the weight than the height. Pedro and Lincicum were 170 lbs. Stroman is 180 and Nestor is 225. Imai is significantly lighter.
Have you actually seen video of Imai? He’s much thicker now, I’d guess 185 plus. That 154 is not accurate.
OK. So Baseball Reference has his weight wrong.
That’s quite a spread between Pedro Martinez and then to the other arms. There’s quite a few other arms who were shorter who were very good in their careers after Pedro. There’s Whitey Ford, Johnny Cueto, Tim Lincaecum, Guidry, Billy Wagner.
It’s probably less so about his talent and moreso about the innings endurance. That’s the general take on size factoring into a 162 game season. Not saying that’s whatever will happen here, just expressing the general POV
@Oriols don’t forget Grienke or Roy Oswalt.
You’re fooling yourself as they are used to 6 days rest in Japan and smaller baseballs. At 5’11’ , 154 lbs he is going to fall apart with TJS written all over him
Anthony I think you’re pretending to know things that you don’t actually know for a fact.
Redwolves3: Don’t worry about Boras. He and his reputation will be fine no matter the outcome.
And what’s it to you anyway?
For every guy Bora$ gets a big payday, there are five who don’t get that he tells them. But everyone thinks they will be the one to get the big payday until it’s too late because he said so.
This one belongs to the Reds: And the Boras Corporation keeps pushing forward to greater success despite haters like you. I have no idea why he and his colleagues bother you so much and what harm you believe they’ve caused you.
He should at least get a deal similar to Imanaga – various types of player and team options after a two year guarantee. If he is good, he will be looking at a much bigger payday after the 2027 season.
So something like 2/40 guaranteed and then a mutual option where the team can take 5/130 and if rejected the player can take 3/45.
@Red
Boras has consistently signed his players to likely billions of dollars over his career. His rep is pretty solidified.
What’s he going to say? This pitcher is slightly above average. Everyone hates Boras because he gets his clients the most money possible. That’s his job. There’s a reason so many players choose him and his agency.
If he was good, Dodgers would have signed him already.
Imai doesn’t wanna go to LA LA Land!
He shows intelligence at least.
Agreed. And for not nearly as much as originally expected.
He is elite. Go get him DD!
AAA elite, but maybe just not impressive enough for the MLB. Imai looks like a short term success story to me. Don’t think he will see a long term deal.
There’s actually a baseball team out there in Frisco? What they called again?
“Out there in Frisco”
Cap must be stuck in 1849 ?
We out here where the streets are paved in gold. Abner says we’re goin get us a team together soon.
@oldie-Yeah but you guys still aren’t getting Imai. Who says so? Me, that’s who said so! Imai would rather sign with the Friars then with Frisco. How do I know? Cause he told me so… lol
Don’t care, don’t want him.
Just the newest overhyped shiny object from overseas. He’ll get shelled here and physically won’t hold up to the schedule.
Yeah he weighs less than 150lbs. That’s probably a red flag right there.
99Captain Judge99: Why does your handle cry out Yankees fanboy if you’re a Cubs fan?
My work here is done.
Imai is too “different” and “oriental” (in his own terms) for oldgfan’s preference
He doesn’t. He looks around 185 now.
Why are you projecting that on oldgfan? Not seeing above that he said that.
Keep trying to stir up crap. You don’t know me, or my “preference”.
Scold someone else. You never really have anything to say about baseball.
Thanks for keeping track of my “own terms” (out of context) in your head.
Your attempt of a joke, not mine.
cashman trying to cut payroll, insert story about some sour grapes here
@ Tony
@Neuman- who says” you can’t root for an American and a National League Team”? 🤦♂️
99Captain Judge99: Nobody I know of. But I just asked the question. No need to go planting your face over it.
@Neuman- hey worry about what you do, not at what I do, much thanks!
How does nobody else appreciate the use of “what, me worry?” here? Classic.
Takes like this are why we’re all on MLBTR and not running teams
Come on AA.. Atlanta needs 1 more starter. We also need to tap into the Japanese market and that revenue stream. It is time and Imai is the guy.
I know it is unrealistic but if there was ever a time to go for it, now is it!
I actually would not be shocked if Anthopoulos snuck in and signed Imai. It would be a huge coup if the Braves could get him.
I agree! I personally think it would be a smart get for AA and the Braves.
I personally think the Braves should consider a 6 man rotation anyway and Imai would be perfect. I’m not saying they have to go with a 6 man rotation but I think it would be smart.
Sale
Imai
Schwellenbach
Strider
Waldrup
Lopez/Holmes
This helps protect against injury some.. Obviously doesn’t prevent injury but helps.
I also prefer Imai over Gallen or Valdez…
I might actually consider giving up the draft pick for Suarez but even then I’m iffy about it. Suarez at least gives the Braves another lefty starter and has been lights out in the playoffs!
I still prefer Imai to Suarez though due to draft capital.
It would be great to see Atlanta sign him but I have a feeling the Mets have an agreement in place with Boras: “Tell us what the best and final offer is for him and give us a chance to beat it.” That’s what real clubs do when they are willing to pay top dollar for free agents.
And I hate the Mets…btw. Tried and true Red Sox fan but I know there’s no way tight wad John Henry opens up the purse strings for Imai or any other pricey free agent with the possible exception of Bregman.
Okamoto signing with the Bucs would be unreal. The city of Pittsburgh would burn down in excitement and joy.
Really? He’s not that great and is 30. It’s also very unclear he can play 3B long term or can hit MLB velo. I’d rather they spend on an outfielder or two.
seamaholic 2: being contrarian and standing up for owners doesn’t make you look cool
His offensive value is pretty well proven at this point. Above average power (which has been dwarfed by Murakami’s raw power potential), low strikeout rate, tons of playoff experience, and consistent contact. His defense seems serviceable with no gold gloves imminent but no huge question marks you’d get with a Moncada or other available gloves. I think Pittsburgh may not go crazy but this would be a very very good signing for them that would like take him to his age 35 season. Outside Bregman, Okamoto is the best 3B on the market and I really hope they get him cause he’d be an immediate upgrade at this position of need.
I agree almost completely, I just don’t think you’ll see much power from him in PNC Park. But I think his offense will be fine overall
Even if the Pirates don’t sign him Pittsburgh can still look forward to the football playof…, oh sorry never mind. That’s iffy isn’t it
Renegade412: All the yinzer jagoffs goin dahntahn.
It’s feasible that Baltimore walks away from the off season with only modest rotation upgrades?
Sure it is…but reading the tea-leaves, listening to the FO, and most of all, reporting of them being connected to every single TOR FA in the market all off season, seems to strongly suggest otherwise.
So they’ll take Efflin over Framber or Suarez, and call it a day?? Any reports indicate that? Or is it more like “past off season actions suggest they will…” or what. What’s the basis of “walks away from the off-season” claim?
Just that on paper we have a 5-man rotation. Given inevitable injuries and Bradish and maybe Eflin (also Wells) being on innings-limits, I don’t think having a potential 5-man rotation already will stop them from signing a top SP.
It’s absurd. Elias has clearly learned the lesson from his own team and others that you need to roll 7-8 SP deep to make the playoffs, then have 2 elite SPs once you get there.
Two of Rogers, Bradish, and Baz could certainly become the latter. But there’s no way he doesn’t grab at least another #3/4 to eat injury innings. He definitely has the budget in prospects and dollars to get another elite arm, too.
We hear every offseason that the Orioles are “interested in” or “in on” every top arm. But no one signs. Except Burnes for one year. Until it actually happens, thinking they will stop now is 100% valid.
I am encouraged by the offseason so far but it is not a complete success until they get a top rotation arm on the level of Suarez or Valdez.
Baz and Eflin are surely better than last winter’s laughable attempts, but today at best they have the 4th best rotation in the division.
So right now its a good offseason and I am “interested in” calling it an outstanding one. Still time to make that happen.
“They never get anybody, except for the best arm on the market two years ago” is a hell of a take. They also effectively beat his best offer in FA.
I don’t mind skepticism. I mind skepticism that’s divorced from lessons learned.
They got a 1 year deal and it was sort of a “prove it”, and their long term offer was given knowing he wasn’t accepting it. It has been well established and discussed that they have not done multi year deals for top pitching.
You have to go back to the mid 1990s for the last time they actually signed top rotation arms to big deals. THIRTY years ago.
I don’t mind counterpoints but at least come back with proper perspective.
Proper perspective is not handwaving away the fact that their offer had *more term* than AZ’s. If he’d taken it, I’m sure you’d just say “yeah, but that’s the ONLY one…”
After the Ubaldo and Cobb deals, I don’t blame the FO for being cautious about signing #1 starters to big deals. It would’ve been nice if they could have straightened out Gaus and Arrieta begore dealing them, but no one’s gonna say that about Baumann. And Burnes wasn’t gonna help them.last year, all other things being equal.
I’d rather have Baz than Suarez though
Yes “it’s at least feasible that Baltimore will walk away from the offseason” let’s hope not but a statement like that seems pretty reasonable on face value and doesn’t need a thorough defense IMO
Mets two years
I think that it is awesome that the international player’s window directly affects what decisions certain teams will make moving forward after the fact in terms of MLB free agency. It really feels like that we are entering a time of truly having the greatest players in the world all playing right here in the states right in front of our eyes. I love it. I do wish that the Cardinals were participating in the glory of it all, but I’ve accepted my fate being a lifelong fan of theirs. This train will not stop at our station. We will be getting an amazing product overall as fans of baseball. That’s the most important thing. I’m excited to see all of the great talent in the years ahead.
Don’t worry, faithful Yankee fans! Hal has authorized me to make an offer to Imai, and I think it’s pretty compelling. We’re teaming up with Subway to get him half-off footlongs for 3 years (cold cut subs only, not warm subs!), plus the league minimum. As a signing bonus I’m going to Target and buying out the whole wall of Magic The Gathering cards and will present them to him at the signing ceremony. We hope this stops you guys from calling the PR office and griping about how little we’re doing this offseason. Finally, stop calling Hal cheap. He doesn’t want me to tell you this but he got me a lovely Edible Arrangements bouquet as a Christmas bonus.
With love,
BC
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been genuinely stirred by a Cashman speech to this extent. My only question is how do you say, “I always wanted to be a Yankee” in Japanese?
@solaris602-Everybody deep down what’s to be a Yankee, silly! You must find you’re inner self. Good luck 2 U!
Not Michael King.
Yanks would have a better chance if George Costanza was still there to entice Imai and his representatives with giant bags of fresh Florida oranges and breathable cotton uniforms.
Hal is far from cheap. The Yankees currently top the AL, as always, in payroll.
Yes, Mr. Ca$hman please make an offer for Imai, yes you are pre-authorized to do so, you have Uncle Hal’s permission. (100%) 🙏🙏🙏 Love U, Mr. Judge!!!
Dodgers cleared a roster spot – just sayin’…
Nah he doesn’t wanna play with that team. Imai said he wants to beat that team, instead of joining them. God bless him! 🙏🙏🙏
Offseason will be a failure for Os if they don’t sign or trade for a #1 or 2A starter. They can’t go into the season hoping for the best with the pitchers like last year. They could use an 8th inning guy too (backup closer in case Helsley is a bust).
Usually I drink the Orange Kool Aid but super agree. While the team is naturally going to have improvement from the young guys and hopefully no regression from the established guys like last year, also hopefully less injuries. But…… really all you have done is add Pete. You replaced Grayson with Baz, replaced Ohearn with a righty in Ward, and likely downgraded (although good pick up) with Helsley over Batista.
Have to add another vet bullpen arm, and a lefty specialist out of the pen. Plus a #1 starter or at least a strong #2/#3. After Imai signs that should paint a clearer picture on Valdez and Suarez. Still have faith that’s the direction we are headed 🙏
The Apologist really understands his team. I respect that.
Compared to last winter, it’s more than slight improvement, now that Sugano and Morton aren’t in the plans, and they’re not going to give Kyle Gibson another shot when one or more of the starters go down. I agree that much depends on Rogers and Bradish holding down the top and Baz being coached into better success and health than Grayson. Surprised you forgot about Laureano, though. Will have to see if Beavers and O’Neill work out. And you know they’re gonna keep dealing to get something for Mountcastle &/or Mayo. Just bothered by the ace fixations that don’t look hard at whether the big contracts genuinely translate into significant WARs or deep PS success.
I’d still give the offseason a C+ or B- grade without signing a 1 or 2 starter…
I wonder why Suarez hasn’t signed yet. I’ve seen him plenty vs the Braves, and he’s pretty good. It looks like he doesn’t pitch many innings, but are there other red flags?
No, teams are waiting to see what happens with Bregman
Bregman and Okamoto signings are probably necessary for Eugenio Suarez and his team to negotiate something within the range between Okamoto on Suarez’s low end and Bregman on top.
Ranger Suarez seems like the perfect free agent for Baltimore to me. In fact, I’ve kind of expected him to sign there all along…
I’ll be shocked if Mike Elias gives Ranger Suarez $100MM+
I don’t see that happening. Under $75MM then maybe.
Is the consensus 5yr / $100m for Ranger Saurez at this point? If so, the Braves need a pitcher. I like Zac Gallen as a rebound candidate, but I thought Ranger would get more than Zac (TBD on both still).
There’s actually a team out there, that plays in Baltimore???
I wanna see a video of this
@CaptainJudge “Yeah, they got uniforms and everything”
@Joe It All- I truly find that hard to believe. Are you 100% sure?
That was against the Padres, not against that team that doesn’t really exist.
Division rivalry aside, think Boston and Baltimore would do a Bello-for-Kremer deal?
Isn’t that move a lateral one let it be?
Gut instinct. Bello may feel more of a comfort zone in Baltimore. Kremer seems to have a little more reliability/durability which the Sox would welcome on the heels of Crawford and Houck.
Nonrumors of.Tiger interest or.Tiger.fan.comments.
Too.bad.
Harris keeps his cards close. That way, the fans can only complain after its too late to influence his thinking. On the meantime, we keep waiting for him to add the starter and RH bat (at 3B) that they need.
Wut?
Both Japanese guys would be great fits here. And they’d create some fan excitement.
That says I expect neither.
The last Japanese guy there did alright. 🙂
The Mets should sign both Okamoto and Imai, Okamoto can play 1b and Polanco can DH
Breaking in Chicago: Imai’s going to the White Sox. Good for them; they are one of the few teams acting like there’s going to be a 2027 season.
Yeah? I’m having a hard time believing that “sportsmockery.com” have the inside scoop
multiple soutces
Okamoto would fit really well in SD with Sheets. Having Song and Okamaoto in the lineup at the same time might be a lil challenging tho.. ironically, I think Okamoto gets a better deal than Murakami. He’s got some good options to choose from.
Song might be utility initially like Kim was. That worked out pretty well. I’m just worried about how the Padres can afford Okamoto as I thought they were already just under the second tier CBT, and they still need another starting pitcher.
I don’t think Song will ever have Kim’s glove, but if he can mix in some OF starts with 3B/2B days, he’ll be a solid contributor.
IMO, the lack of RH power is a more pressing need than the rotation, the offense was painful to watch last year. King/Pivetta/Musgrove could be a solid playoff rotation, they need depth moreso than TOR starters. They could go cheap on the RH bat, too.
The Orioles should assemble the Zac Staff. Little Zack, Gallen Zac, and Elf on the shelf Zach.
They can call themselves Zack Attack and give us hits next summer like “Friends Forever” and “Did We Ever Have a Chance?”
Call it wishful thinking, but here’s my dream scenario: the Yankees are working behind the scenes on Bellinger, Okamoto, and Imai – and this time they’ve laid down the law with Boras. No more games. No more using Yankee offers as leverage to drive up bids like they did with Soto. Shop it around, bring us your best number, and let’s get these deals done – or we walk.
And when Boras tries his usual song and dance? Hal looks him dead in the eye and reminds him whose son he is. Big George didn’t build this empire by getting played, and neither will his legacy. The Steinbrenner name still means something in the Bronx, and it’s time Scott remembers that.
@Knicks- I can’t believe I’m saying this” I really like your wishful thinking” please let me let you continue in this delusion.
That strategy doesn’t work when there are multiple suitors. The Yankees have no leverage.
I actually think the White Sox will sign Imai and overpay like they did for Murakami. The last stud American free agent they signed in his prime was waaaay back in the 90’s when they signed Albert (Joey?) Belle, he was actually in his prime and dude was literally crazy, but nonetheless, it’s been decades.
They know guys like Bregman, Tucker etc… would never consider playing there so why not pounce on the international market and get players that aren’t familiar with the stigma of playing for the White Sox? I think it’s a good gamble. How else are you going to make the worst franchise in pro sports at least seem competitive? It’s not the worst strategy by Getz.
Boras would be using our WSox to tick off the Cubs into increasing their offer, although it’d be nice if other big budget clubs have priorities elsewhere. Reinsdorf also probably doesn’t mind being used if a last minute 2 to 3 year what the heck offer expectedly falls short.
Rest of trash talk hyperbole. WSox won the race vs Cubs to break WSeries drought by 20 years-next one up for grabs and owner holding them back will be w/o control in a few years.
The Cubs, for better or worse, could not care less what the White Sox do. They certainly won’t increase their offer for fear the Sox will get the guy.
What we are seeing here is the Ishbia influence.
The White Sox didn’t win any “race” against the Cubs or anyone else for that matter. It’s been well documented, the embarrassing futility of that so called franchise.
Since 1917 The NW Indiana White Sox have won THREE post season series… THREE measly playoff series wins in well over a century and ALL 3 came in ‘05.
How is that even possible? Especially for a team that plays in a major market?!
MLB had to change the draft rules because this inept franchise. Worst record in MLB HISTORY (that’s a long history) and picked 10th in the first round.
The irony is the White Sox got penalized for tanking when they actually weren’t trying to tank… they’re just the White Sox.
How do small market teams like KC, Pittsburgh… even the A’s stay more competitive than you goofs.
3 post season series wins since 19f’n17… WOW
WSox didn’t motivate the anti-tank draft changes. MLB was okay when Cubs/Astros did it, but once Balt blatantly did it for years they got those wheels in motion. Both Chicago franchises have a poor bottom line result in winning WS championships-oooh recent WC era appearances. Reinsdorf is a terrible owner, but soon enough he won’t be running things.
Can your writers learn something before they write? Yes it would be great if the Os sign one more pitcher but it’s just idiotic to suggest that Kyle Bradish is not a top of rotation arm. He was the third best pitcher in baseball in 23 and even better in 24 before TJ. Yes he’s returning from injury but was dominant again in the final 2 months of 25. Then there’s Roger’s. Sample size is too small to be sure but there was no one better for 4 months last year
I hope he signs a similar deal like Murakami,with the Chisox. I think it is about time, that the ghost of Pedro Grifol, goes away.
I wish the yankees would take a run at Imai especially if a lot of teams do not want to go after him due to height or weight. Maybe they can get him on a 3 year deal however something tells me even tho the had luck with Matsui and Tanaka they are always cautious after kei igawa and Hideki Irabu even tho Irabu did have some ok results the yankees weren’t happy
The Giants are killing me right now. Imai and Framber are the players that would seem like the most obvious fits for our need. Hope they’re going after them.
If we don’t get either I’m not sure we’re going to see enough of an improvement from 2025. Also puts us in a position of needing two good SPs next offseason with Robbie Ray becoming a free agent.