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3w ago

Seibu to Post Tatsuya Imai as Mets Evaluate Top NPB Starter

Contract estimates range from roughly $110 million to $150 million, with scouts divided on his MLB ceiling.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 02: A view of a New York Mets baseball cap on the stairs of the dugout during the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 02, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • The Saitama Seibu Lions have confirmed plans to post the 27-year-old right-hander this offseason, though he has not been officially posted yet under the NPB-MLB system.
  • SNY’s Andy Martino reports the Mets will be in on Imai, with interest characterized as exploratory rather than an all-out pursuit.
  • Imai is coming off a career year for Seibu with a 1.92 ERA over 163 2/3 innings, a 27.8% strikeout rate, and highlights that included a combined no-hitter and a 17-strikeout outing.
  • His repertoire features a 95–99 mph fastball supplemented by a splitter, slider, and changeup, and evaluators disagree on how that mix will translate to a major-league rotation.
  • MLB Trade Rumors projects a six-year, $150 million deal that would trigger an estimated $24.375 million posting fee, while other predictions, such as a five-year, $110 million Mets deal, remain speculative.