Blue Jays 2025 free agent target: Tatsuya Imai

It’s almost a certainty that the Toronto Blue Jays will sign a starting pitcher this off-season.

Not only is there a gaping hole in their rotation, but Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber are set to become free agents after the 2026 season, while José Berríos can opt out of his contract. That potentially leaves just Trey Yesavage and Eric Lauer as pitchers in their rotation.

Simply put, the Jays need to sign a starter, especially since next year’s free agent class is rather weak, aside from Tarik Skubal. There are a handful of quality starters available in free agency this season, including Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai, who was recently posted.

Let’s take a look at his career in Japan, as well as whether he’s a fit for the Blue Jays.

2025 Season Stats

Imai made his Nippon Professional Baseball debut in 2018 with the Saitama Seibu Lions, authoring a 4.97 ERA and 4.86 FIP in 83.1 innings pitched. That began a three-year stretch during which his ERA was above 4.30. The 27-year-old had his first sub-4.00 ERA season in 2021, authoring a 3.30 ERA and 4.39 FIP in 158.1 innings pitched. Imai missed a large chunk of the 2022 season due to a sprained ankle.

The right-handed pitcher hit a new level in 2023, posting a 2.30 ERA and 3.34 FIP in 133 innings pitched, with a 24.4 K% and an 11.4 BB%. His 2024 season was a career-best, as Imai had a 2.34 ERA and 2.44 FIP in 173.1 innings pitched, with a 26.3 K% and 9.8 BB%. The 2024 season saw him log the most innings, post a sub-.3.00 FIP, and drop his BB% below 10% for the first time in his career.

Imai was truly dominant in 2025, even in the current dead-ball era of NPB. In 163.2 innings pitched, Imai had a 1.92 ERA and 2.01 FIP, with a 27.8 K% and 7 BB%. Those numbers (aside from throwing nine and two-thirds innings fewer than in 2024) were the best of his career.

Despite standing at 5’11”, 154 lbs, Imai sits in the mid-90s with his fastball and can touch 99 mph with run. His best secondary is his gyro slider, which benefits from his low arm angle, and he also throws a strong splitter.

Does Tatsuya Imai fit on the Blue Jays?

Imai profiles best as a middle-of-the-rotation starter, and would probably follow after Trey Yesavage, Kevin Gausman, and perhaps Shane Bieber. Adding Imai to that rotation, along with José Berríos, is an upgrade over their rotation from last season.

Another added benefit to signing Imai as opposed to other top starters on the free agent market is that Imai doesn’t come attached with a qualifying offer. Dylan Cease, Ranger Suárez, Framber Valdez, Zach Gallen, and Michael King were all offered and declined qualifying offers, meaning that if the Jays were to sign them, they would forfeit their second and fourth-round picks in the 2026 draft.