Clubs in the major leagues that have a pressing need for a quality starting pitcher received encouraging information on Monday. The Seibu Lions will make their exceptional pitcher, Tatsuya Imai, available, paving the way for him to potentially join a major league team, the organization officially stated.
Imai, who is 27 years old, has distinguished himself as one of the premier pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Japan’s top-tier professional league. Last season, he achieved a 1.92 ERA and recorded 178 strikeouts across 163 2/3 innings pitched.
Once Imai is officially available, major league teams will have a 45-day period to discuss and negotiate contract terms with him. If he reaches an agreement, the signing major league team will then be responsible for paying a fee to the Lions in exchange for releasing Imai. This fee is separate from the financial terms agreed upon in Imai’s contract and can vary based on the contract’s overall value.
Should Imai not reach an agreement with a major league team, he will return to the NPB for the subsequent season.
The timing of this announcement is advantageous for both Imai and the Lions. The free-agent market in Major League Baseball has a limited number of starting pitchers. Notable names among the available talent include Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, and Shota Imanaga, but each possesses certain weaknesses.
Despite his impressive strikeout potential, Cease has maintained a 4.18 ERA over the past three seasons due to consistency issues. Valdez and Suárez may not be the most proficient at strikeouts and can encounter challenging periods. Imanaga experienced a decline in performance during his second season and is susceptible to allowing home runs.
While Imai has no experience playing in the major leagues, his youth is a distinct advantage. He is at least two years younger than the other leading candidates and is possibly entering the market after his strongest season as a professional pitcher.
The success of pitchers who have transitioned from NPB to MLB has varied. Imanaga and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers have seen notable success. Both have earned All-Star selections early in their careers. Roki Sasaki, a significant acquisition for the Dodgers in the previous offseason, had a mixed performance as a starter and struggled with injuries. Nevertheless, he emerged as a valuable asset in the bullpen during the playoffs. Even so, his future and his role in the major leagues remain uncertain.
Imai will not be the sole player made available by a team in the NPB this offseason. On Saturday, the Yakult Swallows posted third baseman Munetaka Murakami. At 25 years old, he possesses significant power-hitting ability, but is also prone to striking out.
Both players are anticipated to generate interest during their respective posting periods. Considering Murakami’s limitations and the limited supply of exceptional pitching talent in the market, Imai might emerge as the more sought-after — and more expensive — of the two players transitioning to Major League Baseball this winter.
