It is becoming increasingly clear that the supposed interest that the Yankees had in Tatsuya Imai never really existed and that it was all part of the rumors that arise in the winter market. This becomes clearer after the Japanese player’s possible move to the Cubs is gaining momentum.
There has been much talk that there are long faces within the New York franchise after Munetaka Murakami signed with the White Sox and Edwin Diaz with the Dodgers, as they were two other players who were among their targets for the 2026 season. The same was thought with Imai, but with the Japanese there was no intention to sign him.
YES Network’s Jack Curry claimed that the Yankees are no longer in the running for Imai. In fact, Chicago has a clear path to securing his services, because there was no offer from New York. There are also no proposals from other teams on the table, except for the Cubs.
I think he ends up signing with the Cubs. For the Cubs, they do need to improve the ceiling of their rotation and reports have indicated that they want to add pitching this offseason with Imai. He brings a lot, he has a good repertoire and several pitches. I can imagine the pitching department in Chicago having a lot of fun working with him
Curry indicates that the versions about Tatsuya’s arrival in the Bronx were pure “smoke”. His words are supported by what Aaron Boone said before Christmas when he mentioned at a social event that there were never any conversations with the Japanese player and, therefore, he was not a priority on the organization’s agenda.
Another indication that the Yankees did not consider Tatsuya is their caution in signing this offseason. The New Yorkers are hoping to reach an agreement with Kyle Tucker, an element that did interest them at the end of the 2025 campaign.
Tucker out, Imai in
The Japanese pitcher is coming off a dominant season with a 1.92 ERA, 0.892 WHIP and 178 strikeouts in 163.2 innings pitched, allowing just 45 walks.
With Kyle Tucker out of the team’s roster, the Cubs have even more financial flexibility and a projected $135 million contract for Imai. It is a move they are expected to make soon, especially as Tucker is expected to sit down at the negotiating table with the Yankees and they will want to close their next pitcher as soon as possible.
Tatsuya Imai never saw himself in Dodgers
Virtually all of Japan’s elite stars have ended up wearing the Dodgers uniform: Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. That’s why it was rumored that the other Asian jewel on their roster would be Imai.
But these days Tatsuya commented that he did not see himself joining the Dodgers at all. He argued that what they are least looking for is a player in his position, because they have that section well covered.
With the number of pitchers they already have, they don’t need me
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