Three potential landing spots for pitcher Tatsuya Imai

Seibu Lions pitcher Tatsuya Imai is not available to major league teams just yet. That will change on Nov. 19 when he is officially posted, giving teams 45 days to sign Imai; otherwise, he will pitch for the Lions in 2026.

Should Imai return to Japan, it will not be due to a lack of major league interest. He is regarded as one of the top free agent pitchers available during the 2025-26 offseason and should command a healthy salary. He posted an impressive 1.92 ERA and a 0.892 WHiP over 163.2 innings, striking out 178 batters with 45 walks. While Nippon Professional Baseball is skewed toward pitching, Imai was sixth in NPB in ERA and second in WHiP. 

The 27-year-old is an intriguing option for any major league team. He has a five-pitch arsenal led by a mid-90s fastball that can approach triple digits and a plus slider. Imai rounds out the arsenal with a splitter, a changeup and can adjust the shape of his slider to have it play more like a curveball. He has steadily improved his ability to command his arsenal, improving his walk rate from 7.6 BB/9 with the Lions in 2020 to 2.5 BB/9 in 2025. It is thought that Imai could reach another level with tweaks to his delivery, with mechanical adjustments allowing him to fully reach his potential.

There are a few question marks. Imai is smaller than the typical starting pitcher at 5-foot-11 and 154 pounds. It is fair to wonder how he will hold up to the rigors of a major league season. Likewise, as MLB has a larger ball, he may face a longer adjustment period. However, his potential and arsenal make him well worth the risk.

Imai should generate plenty of interest once he officially becomes available. Let's take a look at three potential landing spots for the Japanese righty.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers do not specifically need Imai. Their rotation is seemingly set with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. General manager Brandon Gomes said that Roki Sasaki, who excelled in relief during the postseason, is part of their plans for the rotation in 2026. The likes of Gavin Stone, Emmett Sheehan, Landon Knack and River Ryan could battle Sasaki for the fifth starter spot.

However, none of that group is a given to stick in the rotation. Imai may come with his own question marks, but he would be one of the best fifth starters in baseball in the Dodgers' projected rotation. Likewise, the Dodgers' pitching depth would be a decided strength, providing an avenue for potential trades to round out the roster. As the last two top Japanese pitchers to be posted landed in Los Angeles (Yamamoto and Sasaki), the Dodgers cannot be counted out for Imai.

2. New York Mets

There is no question that the Mets need to overhaul their rotation. Injuries and ineffectiveness with their starters torpedoed their second half as the rotation posted a 5.31 ERA, 27th in the majors. Some of those improvements should come from within, as pitchers Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga and Clay Holmes are expected to improve from last year. Likewise, young starters such as Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong and Nolan McLean should play a part in the Mets' 2026 plans.

However, there are plenty of questions around each of those options. Adding another starter or two would provide the Mets with more of a margin for error and better depth in the wake of injuries or disappointing performances. Imai is regarded as having a profile similar to Senga, giving the Mets a degree of familiarity with his arsenal. Adding Imai would give the Mets another option with upside for the rotation as they look to return to the postseason.

3. San Diego Padres

The Padres' rotation is in a state of flux heading into the offseason. Starters Dylan Cease and Michael King are free agents, leaving a pair of gaping holes on the pitching staff. Yu Darvish will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing elbow surgery and will be 40 years old when he returns. Although the Padres have several exciting pitching prospects in their system, they are still years away from making an impact at the major league level.

Adding Imai would give the Padres a strong duo atop the rotation as he would likely slot behind Nick Pivetta as the second starter. Imai's relative youth would also be a bonus to a team that is looking to build a sustainable contender. Imai could be the Padres front of the rotation starter heading into the next decade, leading the team as they look to dethrone the Dodgers in the NL West.