Overview
- Reporting cites the Yankees as a strong suitor for Imai, with Francys Romero corroborating New York as among the favorites and noting an organizational push to re-enter the Japanese market.
- MLB.com insider Jon Paul Morosi has identified the Giants among early MLB suitors for the Saitama Seibu Lions right-hander.
- Imai produced a 1.92 ERA and 0.892 WHIP with 178 strikeouts and 45 walks across 163.2 innings in 2025 for Seibu.
- Scouts describe a low-slot righty with a 95–99 mph fastball, a splitter, a vulcan-changeup-style sinker, a slider that moves into right-handed hitters, and a curveball.
- No agreement has been announced, and interest is expected from additional teams such as the Blue Jays and Mets as clubs weigh needs like the Yankees’ rotation uncertainty for 2026.