The New York Yankees have yet to make a major splash this offseason.
They've certainly got a history of making big moves, though, so you can't count them out.
And one name they might be in on: Tatsuya Imai.
The small right-handed pitcher from Japan has a lot of suitors. The Yankees may be one of them.
MLB.com's Andrew Simon has called the Yankees the "perfect fit" for Imai in a new article.
"The Yankees haven’t had a pitcher from Japan take the mound for them since Masahiro Tanaka’s tenure ended after the 2020 season, but this would be a good time for that drought to end," Simon writes. "While there may not be a desperate need for rotation help in the Bronx, it’s also true that the team is banking on three pitchers coming off elbow surgery (Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt), with the latter two rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Cam Schlittler and Will Warren were rookies in 2025, and Luis Gil looked shaky in 11 starts, despite a solid ERA. Imai is not without some risk, as is any player coming over from NPB, but as a 27-year-old with a consistently impressive track record there, he would look awfully nice slotting in behind Max Fried and protecting the Yankees in case any part of their existing rotation plan goes haywire."
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New York knows it'll get Gerrit Cole back at some point in 2026, but he's not expected for opening day after his Tommy John surgery last year.
Fried was as advertised as a free agent signing in 2025. If Imai could do similarly in 2026, it'd be a huge boost to the Yankees' chances of success.
They'd likely have to win a bidding war to have a chance. But it could be worth it to land Imai.
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