Everyone can calm down about Tatsuya Imai supposedly not having MLB offers. It was more a misunderstanding about how this process and super agent Scott Boras work than an indictment of the 27-year-old pitcher.
When reports surfaced quoting Imai as saying there were not many concrete options on the table, the reaction was immediate and dramatic. With a Jan. 2 signing deadline looming, the absence of public offers was framed as bad news.
In reality, it is almost meaningless. This is exactly how a Boras negotiation looks before it moves, according to one former MLB GM who has dealt with the uber agent.
Former MLB general manager Jim Duquette laughed off the concern on MLB Network Radio.
"That's not how Scott Boras works," Duquette said.
In fact, recent reports indicate that Imai is in Los Angeles to hear the team's proposals, which is very much how Boras works.
He went on to explain that Boras does not sit around collecting written offers early in the process. Teams express interest, conversations happen behind the scenes, and formal offers arrive only when Boras decides the market is ready.
The bidding will get going well before Imai's posting closes on Jan. 2 at 5 p.m.
Imai acknowledged that teams have shown interest and noted that interest and formal offers are different things.
The reality is, Imai is not a fringe posting candidate hoping someone takes a flyer.
He has been one of the most consistent frontline starters in Nippon Professional Baseball. In 2025, he posted a 1.92 ERA across more than 160 innings for the Saitama Seibu Lions, striking out well over a batter per inning while limiting hard contact. Over his NPB career, Imai owns an ERA just over 3.00 with nearly 1,000 strikeouts, multiple All-Star selections, and a reputation for durability and competitiveness.
Scouts have long viewed him as MLB-ready. His fastball sits in the mid- to upper 90s, his slider is a true swing-and-miss pitch, and his command has improved steadily over the past several seasons. For teams looking for rotation upside without the long-term risk of a nine-figure contract, Imai fits cleanly.
That is why the deadline narrative is misleading and panicked headlines are deceptive. It is also why some teams claiming they are not in on Imai may be playing semantics.
The Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Mets, and the Chicago Cubs would be ideal landing spots for Imai, who made it clear he wants to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, not join them.
Posting windows often compress negotiations, but Boras' clients historically do not rush to put it in writing to meet the calendar. When Boras decides it is time to move, teams that have already done their homework are ready to act.
If Imai reaches Jan. 2 without a deal, that would be surprising. If he reaches that date without public clarity, it would not. The market is there. The offers are not visible yet, by design.
