1. Imai posting deadline is approaching:
NPB right-handed Tatsuya Imai is entering the final days of his post-season and is looking to sign with an MLB club any day now. Imai, 27, is one of the more intriguing starters on the market this offseason after back-to-back seasons with the Seibu Lions where he put up dominant numbers. The right back was linked to the Cubs, Mets, Phillies and Yankees, among others, in the early weeks of the offseason, but the rumor mill was relatively quiet in the wake 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 bids for Imai’s services to become available each day as his posting period is set to end on January 2 at 4:00 PM CT.
2. Okamoto starts meeting teams:
The posting deadline for NPB infielder Kazuma Okamoto isn’t coming up as quickly as Imai’s, as Okamoto doesn’t have to sign until January 4. Still, rumors surrounding the infielder’s future have become much more prevalent in recent weeks, as he is coming off an elite (albeit injury-shortened) season with the Yomiuri Giants in 2025. Okamoto has often been tied to the Pirates this season, though connections have also been made between the 29-year-old and teams like the Angels. Padres, Red Sox and Blue Jays. The latest reports on Okamoto indicate that he will be heading to the US for face-to-face meetings with teams, and from there a deal will be completed quickly, with less than a week to go.
3. Orioles continue to strengthen rotation:
The Orioles re-signed a right-handed player Zach Eflin A one-year deal was agreed to this weekend, and reports yesterday indicated that a return to the mound by Opening Day is on the table for the righty, even after undergoing season-ending back surgery in August. That’s notable news, not only because it suggests Eflin’s recovery from that procedure is going well, but also because it gives Baltimore a potential Opening Day rotation of Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane BazEflin, and Daan Kremer with further depth behind those five arms. That’s a playable rotation that appears to be a significant upgrade over last year’s Opening Day quintet, but it lacks the kind of surefire addition to the front of the rotation that many expected from Baltimore this offseason. The addition of a more proven arm like Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez It could certainly still be in the cards from here, but at this point it’s at least feasible that Baltimore will come out of the offseason with only modest rotation upgrades and first baseman Pete Alonso as their big addition.
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