Every MLB offseason follows a familiar rhythm. Some teams come out swinging, others take a more patient approach, waiting for the market to settle before making their move.
This winter, the Yankees have chosen the latter path. Outside of retaining Trent Grisham and bringing in Ryan Yarbrough as a depth piece, New York has largely stayed on the sidelines.
But with the rotation already showing cracks before pitchers and catchers report, that quiet stance won’t hold for long.
The Yankees Need Real Arms, Not Just Warm Bodies
Let’s be clear: the Yankees aren’t just looking for innings-they’re looking for quality innings. Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt are all expected to miss at least the early part of the season.
That’s a brutal trio to lose, and it puts the Yankees in a position where they can’t afford to patch things together with fringe arms and hope for the best. April and May can bury a team if the rotation isn’t ready, and the Yankees know better than to roll the dice on a string of spot starters.
That’s what makes Tatsuya Imai such an intriguing option.
The 27-year-old right-hander is coming off a dominant season with the Seibu Lions in Japan’s NPB, posting a 1.92 ERA over 163.2 innings with 178 strikeouts. His fastball has life, his pitch mix plays, and he’s shown the kind of mound presence that translates well across leagues. Evaluating Japanese imports always comes with a degree of uncertainty, but Imai checks a lot of the boxes that matter: command, swing-and-miss stuff, and the kind of poise that doesn’t rattle under pressure.
The Market Is Crowded-and Competitive
The Yankees aren’t operating in a vacuum here. Imai’s name is popping up on just about every contender’s radar.
According to Jim Bowden, Imai ranks fifth among all Scott Boras clients this winter-ahead of some big MLB names-which tells you how highly teams regard him. Bowden also listed six teams in the mix: the Yankees, Padres, Rangers, Mets, Red Sox, and Cubs.
That’s not just a who's who of big-market clubs; it’s a group that’s shown a willingness to spend and a history of successfully integrating Japanese talent.
Earlier in the offseason, the Giants looked like the favorites. But they’ve since signaled a step back from that tier of spending, which has only tightened the race and raised the stakes for everyone else.
What teams are chasing isn’t just the stat line-it’s the shape of Imai’s arsenal. He’s listed at 5-foot-11 and 154 pounds, which used to raise eyebrows.
But in today’s game, that frame doesn’t scare off evaluators the way it once did. Just look at what Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Pedro Martínez, and Tim Lincecum accomplished without fitting the traditional mold.
What Imai brings is a combination of late movement, downhill plane, and a fastball that averages 99 mph. That’s not just eye-catching-it’s the kind of stuff that makes teams believe he can slot in as a No. 2 starter once he gets a feel for MLB hitters.
Why the Yankees Could-and Should-Be the Right Fit
This is where the Yankees’ player development infrastructure becomes a real selling point. Imai’s success in the majors will hinge on command and control, and landing with a team that knows how to fine-tune a pitcher’s arsenal could be the difference between a solid debut and a breakout campaign.
The Yankees have poured resources into that side of the game. They’ve helped pitchers unlock new velocity, reshape breaking balls, and refine pitch sequencing.
If they’re serious about landing Imai, that’s the pitch they need to make: *come here, and we’ll help you take your game to the next level. *
It’s also worth noting that not every team chasing Imai is staring down the kind of rotation crisis the Yankees are. That urgency could push New York into a more aggressive posture-both in terms of the posting fee and the contract itself.
A Window That Won’t Stay Open Forever
The Yankees don’t need to win the offseason headlines. But they do need to make targeted, high-upside moves that address real needs.
Imai fits that mold perfectly-young, electric, and ready to contribute right away. He’s not just a band-aid for a bruised rotation; he’s a potential foundational piece.
Waiting for the market to come to them might have worked in November. But in December, with the rotation already fraying and the competition heating up, the Yankees can’t afford to keep watching from the sidelines. This is the kind of move that can shape a season-and if they hesitate, someone else will close the deal while New York is still waiting for the perfect moment.