Now that Santa has put away the sleigh for another year, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on today…
1. The Athletics lock up Soderstrom
In a rare bit of major news breaking on Christmas Day, the A’s have agreed to a seven-year, $86MM extension with left fielder Tyler Soderstrom. Between his increasingly strong numbers at the plate and the successful transition to left field, Soderstrom cemented his place as a building block for an Athletics team as they approach their next era in Las Vegas. The Soderstrom extension highlights a busy week for the A’s that has also included the Jeff McNeil trade and the Mark Leiter Jr. signed. The next step might be adding starting pitching, as the A’s have yet to do much to address a rotation that was a weak link in 2025.
2. Imai’s posting deadline approaches
January 2 at 4pm CT marks the end of the 45-day posting window for Tatsuya Imai, as the right-hander will be spending the 2026 season with the Seibu Lions if he can’t finalize a deal with a Major League team within the next week. Such teams as the Yankees, Phillies, Cubs, Orioles, Giants, and Mets have been linked to Imai’s market, though in the case of the latter two clubs in particular, it remains to be seen if the Giants or Mets are willing to make a long-term commitment to any starting pitcher. MLB Trade Rumors projected a six-year, $150MM for Imai as he makes the jump from Japan to North American baseball, and given the number of larger-market teams reportedly interested, it would seem like Imai should be able to land a substantial payday. The Jan. 2 deadline creates a bit of urgency for Imai’s suitors, and his situation might be resolved before other free agent starters (i.e. Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Zac Gallen) come off the board.
3. A busy end to 2025?
The final week of the year tends to be relatively quiet in terms of transactions, as many front office executives take the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day as something of an unofficial break. Of course, as we just saw with Soderstrom’s deal, the hot stove can suddenly heat up at any given time, so you never know when a big extension, trade, or signing might be just around the corner. A big free agent who spent the holidays weighing offers, for instance, might be ready to make a decision now that Christmas is over. Besides Imai’s posting period, Kazuma Okamoto’s posting deadline is also coming up on January 4, so that’s another Japanese star whose arrival in MLB could be determined in short order.
If Detroit (unlikely) signs both Imai and Okamoto, it would put a nice finishing touch on the Tigers roster, a potential TOR starter to replace Skubal in the future, along with a RH hitting 3B, for less than the price of Bregman, whose younger than Bregman. Signing both might actually be a selling point.
That would be a great way to start the New Year! Fills two needs.
Quite surprised there isn’t more buzz around Okamoto and the Tigers. Seems like a natural fit…
Do u kno why they are cheaper options ? It’s bc there’s a high probability their game won’t translate to the MLB level. That’ll leave a huge portion of payroll being eaten by irrelevant players. Detroit doesn’t need either one
Hoping Hoyer picks up Imai right on New Year’s eve to end the year with a nice bow wrapped around it.
Not Hoyers style. He likes dumpster diving for short term wonders .
The goal for the Cubs should be to find a SP that has the potential to be better than Taillion. The only one left that fits that bill to me would be Imai. Suarez is a regression candidate and Gallen has already regressed. If they can’t get Imai there is no point and just wait for Steele and hope he comes back like he was. Which is risky to me. If they sign Imai then they can move Taillion for needs. If Steele makes it back and he’s really back they can move Boyd for something they might need later. It’s he only move left that greatly improves the team IMO. Because Jed let all the high leverage Relievers pass by again in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle.
Hoyer’s had a pretty dismal showing so far. I guess getting a fat extension makes it easier to be Rickett’s ‘yes man’. Unless, of course, you want to sign a serious FA and it’s ’no man’.
As with Murakami, the final deal for both Japanese players will be less than projected. Unless they are signing their own, the real long term deals aren’t seeming to be happening right now.
Imai-Yankees
Okamato-Pirates
Yes I do believe the Pirates are spending a lot this offseason
Yankees aren’t in on Imai there are reports they haven’t even spoken to him. No clue who gets him, but it’s probably down to Cubs, Phillies, Orioles, and Giants. Gut feeling says Giants, but that’s a feeling not attached to any reporting or facts.
Still feel like they’ll do something last second. Doubt it’s Phillies/Giants, but Orioles are in on everybody.
SFG might jump in on a shorter term deal with Imai. Seriously doubt they will go past 3 years on an undersized unproven arm though.
No way it’s the Phillies Dombrowski is bottom feeding since schwarbomb said yes I will take the overpay
It will only be the Cubs if its short-term. Anything over 3, maybe 4 years and they are out.
I know the reports said Baltimore was in on Imai, and Elias stated that they were looking at all starting options on the market, but it has been very quiet for weeks now regarding this.
Obviously it has been fairly quiet in general concerning Imai but there has been some chatter and reports about him in NY, Chicago and smaller pieces or mentions from a couple other clubs.
I know Elias and his team keep things very close to the vest with their moves and processes, so maybe that silence is a good thing and not because of a distancing of the possibility. He would fit nicely in the Orioles rotation and still leave room for a trade to add even another starter.
A rotation of (in no specific order) Bradish, Rogers, Baz, Imai and a trade for someone like Gore in DC would be a great rotation for Baltimore
A trade for a Gore or someone bigger is unlikely. That would require moving prospects they dont have anymore after the last trade. Its FA or bust for them now.
Okamato makes a ton of sense for the Yankees. So does Imai except they won’t hand out another big pitching deal.
Come on giants sign imai
Totally trust that Buster is probably the best possible judge of his stuff, and how it may or may not work at the MLB level.
I’ve been reading that Boston is seriously looking at Okamoto as a more efficient way of covering third base yet I’m thinking it’s leverage ploy with respect to Boras and Bregman.