Should Yankees pursue Tatsuya Imai or wait for other Japanese ace instead?

Hiroto Saiki will likely headline 2026-2027 international free-agent class 

Hanshin Tigers ace Hiroto Saiki requested to be posted this year but was reportedly denied. Instead, he will likely be a part of the next free-agent class. Slightly younger than Imai (both are 28), the Tigers’ ace has posted three consecutive seasons of ERAs under 2.00 — 1.62 in 2023, 1.83 in 2024 and 1.56 in 2025 — almost mirroring the success Yamamoto experienced before posting. He also pitched five scoreless innings against the Dodgers, surrendering one hit and one walk while collecting seven strikeouts during a start in one of last season’s exhibition games in Tokyo. 

Saiki doesn't accrue as many strikeouts as Imai, but he has historically posted lower walk rates. To Imai’s credit, his numbers improved greatly last season, even matching Saiki's walk rate; however, the lowest ERA of his career never reached the highest number Saiki posted in the past four years. 

A lower ERA doesn’t necessarily make Saiki the better pitcher. Still, this can't negate the fact that his results have been far better. Given the comparison between the two starters, what would be the right move for the Yankees: jump at the chance to ink Imai or wait for Saiki?

Assuming they can’t have both, neither option is inherently bad, providing they are able to land just one of them, which isn’t a guarantee. Given this uncertainty, there is no wrong answer. Any help the Yankees pitching staff receives will be warmly welcomed.