Yankees insider shares pessimistic Tatsuya Imai free agent update

Matt Sullivan

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Yankees insider shares pessimistic Tatsuya Imai free agent update image

The New York Yankees are linked to many of the top names on the free agent market, but this offseason has been a waiting game for the Yankees fandom.

While teams like the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, and even the Baltimore Orioles make moves, the Yankees haven't been nearly as involved. Part of that is their patience with Cody Bellinger and Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai.

Jack Curry on YES Network's "New York Yankees Hot Stove" shared an update on a few free agents after speaking to agent Scott Boras. In the update, Curry revealed a pessimistic report on the Yankees' chances of landing Imai.

Yankees get bad news amid pessimistic Tatsuya Imai update

"I said, how about Imai too? And he didn't really answer the question." Curry said of his exchange with Boras. "So as far as Imai is concerned, stay tuned, I'm not sure that there is going to be a connection with the Yankees."

This update on Imai's free agency doesn't bode well for the Yankees' chances of bringing in the Japanese right-hander to New York.

Meanwhile, the Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Chicago Cubs are viewed as potential suitors for Imai and might have an advantage over the Yankees in free agent talks.

While the Yankees could still end up signing Imai still, it seems like their odds are much slimmer than most would've hoped for with this update from Curry and Boras.

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If the Yankees could make a strong push, it would be well worth it for Imai. The 27-year-old right-hander is coming off a dominant 1.92 ERA season with the Seibu Lions in Japan. Across his 24 starts, Imai struck out 178 batters in 163.2 innings pitched.

This report on Imai and the Yankees connection doesn't shut the door completely, but it's a pessimistic update on the two sides potentially linking up on a free agent deal this offseason.

Imai has until January second to sign with an MLB team, as his posting window is ending soon. The Yankees are one of his landing spots, but right now, a contract doesn't look likely.

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Editorial Team