If Imai returns to Japan, it will not be due to a lack of interest in the Major League. He is considered one of the best free agent pitchers available during the 2025-26 offseason and should command a healthy salary. He posted an impressive 1.92 ERA and a 0.892 WHiP over 163.2 innings, striking out 178 batters with 45 walks. While Nippon Professional Baseball has a pitching bias, Imai was sixth in NPB in ERA and second in WHiP.
The 27-year-old is an intriguing option for any Major League team. He has a five-pitch arsenal, led by a mid-90s fastball that can approach triple digits and a plus slider. Imai rounds out the arsenal with a splitter, a changeup, and can adjust the shape of his slider to play more like a curveball. He has steadily improved his ability to control his arsenal, improving his run rate from 7.6 BB/9 with the Lions in 2020 to 2.5 BB/9 in 2025. It is thought that Imai could reach another level with adjustments to his delivery, with mechanical adjustments that allow him to reach his full potential.
There are a few question marks. Imai is smaller than the typical starting pitcher, at 6-foot-4 and 154 pounds. One wonders how he will endure the rigors of a Major League season. Because MLB has a bigger ball, it could also face a longer adjustment period. However, his potential and arsenal make him well worth the risk.
Imai should generate a lot of interest once he becomes officially available. Let’s take a look at three potential landing spots for the Japanese right-hander.
The Dodgers don’t need Imai specifically. Their rotation is seemingly set with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. General manager said Brandon Gomes that Roki Sasaki, who excelled in relief during the postseason, is part of their plans for the rotation in 2026. The likes of Gavin Stone, Emmett Sheehan, Landon Knack and River Ryan could compete against Sasaki for the fifth starting spot.
However, it is not a given for anyone from that group to stay in the rotation. Imai may come with his own question marks, but he would be one of the best fifth starters in baseball in the Dodgers’ projected rotation. Likewise, the Dodgers’ pitching depth would be a deciding force, providing an opportunity for potential trades to round out the roster. Because the last two top Japanese pitchers ended up in Los Angeles (Yamamoto and Sasaki), the Dodgers cannot be counted for Imai.
There is no doubt that the Mets need to rethink their rotation. Injuries and ineffectiveness among their starters torpedoed their second half as the rotation posted a 5.31 ERA, 27th in the main class. Some of those improvements should come from within, as pitchers Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga and Clay Holmes are expected to improve from last year. Likewise, young starters like Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong and Nolan McLean should figure into the Mets’ 2026 plans.
However, there are many questions surrounding each of these options. Adding one or two more starters would give the Mets more margin for error and more depth in the wake of injuries or disappointing performances. Imai is considered as he had a profile similar to Senga’s, giving the Mets some familiarity with his arsenal. Adding Imai would give the Mets a new option with rotational upside if they want to return to the postseason.
The Padres’ rotation is in flux heading into the offseason. Starters Dylan Cease and Michael King are free agents, leaving a few gaping holes on the pitching staff. Yu Darvish will miss the entire 2026 season after elbow surgery and will be 40 years old when he returns. While the Padres have several exciting pitching prospects in their system, they are still years away from making an impact at the Major League level.
Adding Imai would give the Padres a strong duo atop the rotation, as he would likely slot in behind Nick Pivetta as the second starter. Imai’s relative youth would also be a bonus for a team looking to build a sustainable contender. Imai could be the Padres front of rotation starter heading into the next decade and lead the team as they look to dethrone the Dodgers in the NL West.
#potential #landing #spots #pitcher #Tatsuya #Imai