Yankees Pursue Prized Japanese Pitcher Tatsuya Imai in Free Agency

As of November 17th, 2025, the New York Yankees are actively pursuing the signing of Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai in free agency. Imai, a 27-year-old right-hander, is one of three highly-touted Japanese players set to hit the open market this offseason.

The Yankees have a long history of success in recruiting Japanese stars, with past signings including Masahiro Tanaka, Hideki Irabu, Hideki Matsui, and Ichiro Suzuki. However, the team has struggled to tap into that market in recent years, missing out on the likes of two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani and top pitching prospects Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.

Now, the Yankees are hoping to change that trend by pursuing Imai, who is ranked 10th on The Athletic's Big Board. According to a league source, the Yankees view Imai as a potential mid-rotation starter with serious upside. His fastball reaches the mid-to-upper 90s and comes from a low, funky arm slot that makes it difficult for hitters to pick up.

The Yankees' interest in Imai comes at a critical time, as their rotation faces several injury concerns. Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt are all expected to start the 2026 season on the injured list, leaving the team in a precarious position. Imai could provide a much-needed boost, though his projected 8-year, $190 million contract may give the Yankees pause, as they already have three nine-figure starting pitchers on the books.

While Imai appears to be the Yankees' top target from Japan, the team is also monitoring corner infielders Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto, who are ranked 17th and 26th, respectively, on The Athletic's Big Board. However, Murakami's defensive limitations at first base and Okamoto's likely high price tag may make them less appealing options for the Yankees this offseason.