Tatsuya Imai heads to MLB via posting – Yankees, Giants and Orioles emerge as front-runners
Saitama Seibu Lions ace Tatsuya Imai has officially been posted to pursue his dream of playing in Major League Baseball. According to announcements from NPB, the Lions and MLB, Imai was posted in mid-November 2025, with a negotiation window running until 2 January 2026 (US Eastern Time).
In 2025, the 27-year-old right-hander logged 24 starts, going 10–5 with a 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts in 163 2/3 innings. With four straight seasons of an ERA under 3.00 and several dominant outings, US outlets such as MLB.com and ESPN have already labelled him “one of the best starting pitchers currently in Japan”.
Who is Tatsuya Imai? 2025 numbers and profile
First, let’s整理 his 2025 regular-season line with the Lions.
| Year | Team | G | W | L | CG | SHO | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | ER | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Saitama Seibu Lions | 24 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 163.2 | 101 | 6 | 45 | 178 | 35 | 1.92 |
Highlights included a 17-strikeout shutout against Yokohama DeNA and eight no-hit innings as part of a combined no-hitter versus SoftBank. For a Lions team that finished near the bottom of the Pacific League table, Imai was a true ace-level workhorse.
Posting conditions and timeline
Based on official releases, the key points of Imai’s posting are as follows:
- Posting accepted by Seibu: announced on 10 November 2025.
- Formal notification to MLB: around 18–19 November.
- Negotiation window: 19 November 2025, 8:00 a.m. to 2 January 2026, 5:00 p.m. (US Eastern Time).
- If no agreement is reached within the window, Imai returns to Seibu for the 2026 season.
- The Lions receive a transfer fee calculated as a percentage of his guaranteed contract under the current posting system.
US media projections suggest a deal in the range of 5–8 years and total guarantees of 100–200 million dollars, making Imai one of the biggest NPB-to-MLB pitching signings since Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Three leading destinations: Yankees, Giants and Orioles
While many teams have shown interest, local reports most frequently mention three clubs as “front-runners” in the race to sign Imai.
1) New York Yankees – forming a “Big Three” with Cole and Fried
According to the New York Post and other outlets, Imai said in a TV interview that he would “rather challenge the Dodgers from the other side than join them”, and that he wants to pitch “for a team with no Japanese players at the moment”. That profile fits the Yankees, who currently have no Japanese players on their roster.
Some reports say the Yankees envision a rotation “Big Three” of Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Imai. From a pitching standpoint, Yankee Stadium is no pitcher’s paradise, but the combination of strong run support and a need for reliable innings makes Imai, who routinely works deep into games, an attractive fit.
2) San Francisco Giants – West Coast, pitcher-friendly home park
Several US reports note that the Giants, who have been ramping up their presence in the Asian market, are heavily scouting multiple NPB arms, including Imai. While some describe the Giants as “more serious suitors than the Yankees”, others are more cautious, reflecting a degree of uncertainty.
From Imai’s perspective, Oracle Park is known as one of the most pitcher-friendly stadiums in MLB, especially in terms of limiting home runs. Combine that with the chance to pitch in the NL West – directly facing the Dodgers instead of joining them – and San Francisco begins to look like an appealing landing spot.
3) Baltimore Orioles – installing Imai as the “adult in the room” atop a young rotation
MLB Trade Rumors and other outlets have linked the Orioles to Imai as they look not only to bolster their lineup but also to add a true top-of-the-rotation starter. With a young, homegrown core and consecutive postseason runs, Baltimore has so far remained conservative in handing out mega-deals to starting pitchers.
In that context, adding a 27-year-old entering his prime as a de facto ace could be the final piece that aligns with their competitive window. Camden Yards, which has recently been adjusted to reduce home run damage to right-handers, also offers a more forgiving environment than in the past.
What Seibu stands to lose – and to gain
For the Lions, allowing Imai to go to MLB means sending away the pitcher who has been the backbone of their rotation. The club’s front office has publicly admitted that “the impact of losing him is huge”, while also expressing support for his challenge and confidence in the growth of their young pitchers.
- On the minus side: loss of a true ace, fewer innings from a trusted starter, short-term hit to competitiveness.
- On the plus side: a substantial posting fee, more rotation opportunities for young arms such as Ota and Sumida, and branding as a club that “sends its aces to the world”.
With fellow right-hander Kona Takahashi also approved for posting in recent years, Seibu faces the scenario of losing two ace-level pitchers in quick succession. At the same time, this accelerates a generational shift in their rotation.
How fans reacted on X and YouTube
On Japanese social media, official accounts and fan voices have already made “Imai posting” a hot topic. Pacific League TV’s official X account shared the club’s announcement, while Lions fans posted highlight clips of his 17-strikeout gem and comments such as “I’ll support you no matter which MLB team you go to.”
“The Lions have accepted Tatsuya Imai’s request to be posted to MLB. Procedures toward his transfer will now begin.”
YouTube channels dedicated to Japanese baseball have also released analysis videos breaking down his pitch mix, projected contract and potential fit with various teams.
Column: choosing the “right” destination for Imai
From a neutral point of view, each of the three leading candidates offers a different type of appeal.
- Yankees: historic franchise, massive media exposure and a stage where every start is under the spotlight.
- Giants: pitcher-friendly ballpark on the West Coast and a chance to battle the Dodgers head-on.
- Orioles: young, dynamic team where Imai could immediately take on the role of staff ace and postseason tone-setter.
If his publicly stated desire to “challenge the Dodgers, not join them” is taken at face value, the Yankees and Giants look like more natural fits. On the other hand, if he prioritises long-term stability and a team that fits his personality, a quieter market like Baltimore may hold significant appeal.
Regardless of the final choice, Imai’s posting marks the next chapter in the wave of top NPB starters heading to MLB. For fans on both sides of the Pacific, watching where he lands – and whether he can reproduce his Seibu dominance on the biggest stage – will be one of the major storylines of the 2025–26 offseason.
