The New York Yankees have often been linked to the top free agents and trade candidates over the last few years, even if they didn't explicitly need them.
While they've been linked to players once again this offseason, the nature of those rumors has shifted. They're no longer as serious a player for these top free agents; instead, they're, at best, showing interest.
As Jon Heyman of The New York Post revealed, the Yankees, despite being linked to Tatsuya Imai this winter, were not serious contenders to sign the now Houston Astros ace.
Yankees' update on Tatsuya Imai's interest is bad look
"Yankees and Mets were not seriously involved in Imai talks," Heyman reported. "Cubs were among teams in the mix before the Astros won the bidding. Imai is on his way to Houston now."
Imai signed a three-year, $63 million deal with the Astros with opt-outs after each season. This would've been a good deal for the Yankees, or any team in need of pitching.
But he went to the Astros and never had much of a chance to come to New York to pitch for either the Yankees or the Mets.
For the Yankees, who've been linked to Imai at times this offseason, including recently, where they were in the running for Imai among a few teams.
Despite the Yankees being a team linked to Imai this offseason, they never were serious contenders to sign the 27-year-old Japanese right-hander.
He had a 1.92 ERA in 24 starts in 2025, with a 0.892 WHIP and 178 strikeouts. He would've been a great pickup for the Yankees' rotation. Instead, he's signing with Houston.
The Yankees didn't get seriously involved in Imai's sweepstakes, which is a frustrating reality for Yankees fans, as this has been the theme of the offseason so far.
Devin Williams and Luke Weaver left for the Mets, and Imai never was a realistic option. Those situations now lead to concern with Cody Bellinger, especially since his contract is likely to be a lot more than what those free agents got.
Unless the Yankees have been saving their money to spend on Bellinger, their odds for him, or any top free agent, don't look great based on how they've not been involved in the markets of Williams, Weaver, and now Imai.
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