The Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees are seemingly two of the top suitors for international free agent pitcher Tatsuya Imai this offseason. Imai is coming over from the NPB and could end up being one of the best signings of the offseason.
The Yankees and Cubs both need another starting pitcher. They also both have the money to give Imai a deal worth around $150 million to secure him long-term.
CBS Sports’ RJ Anderson predicted Imai would opt to sign with the Cubs over the Yankees in free agency this offseason.
“Imai is an incoming transfer from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league,” Anderson wrote. “He’s on a lower level than someone like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but he has a quality arsenal that includes a mid-90s fastball and a wrong-way slider. All the usual big spenders have been connected to Imai publicly, with the Yankees and Cubs probably making the most sense for him. Coin flip says Chicago.”
Imai has been vocal about his desire to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, which should fire up the other fanbases around the league.
Imai could quickly develop into an ace in the big leagues if his transition to MLB is as smooth as that of pitchers like Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Cubs desperately need to add to their starting rotation, which lacked last season, and Imai could be the perfect option.
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