"Imai should garner lots of interest based on his results and also his age. His earned run average in Japan has been 2.34 or lower in three straight seasons now, including a 1.92 mark in 2025. His strikeout rate has ticked up from 24.4% in 2023 to 26.3% last year and 27.8% this year. Meanwhile, his walk rate has dropped from 11.4% to 9.8% to 7% in those years."
"The signing team will also owe the Lions a posting fee, on top of the guarantee they give Imai. The Lions will get 20% of the contract's first $25MM, 17.5% of the contract's next $25MM, and 15% of any money above the $50MM mark. If Imai were to sign a deal matching MLBTR's $150MM projection, his new team would owe the Lions a $24.375MM posting fee."
Tatsuya Imai will be posted by the Seibu Lions on November 19, creating a 45-day window for him and agent Scott Boras to negotiate with all 30 major league clubs, technically extending into early January. A deal is likely before the holidays when activity slows. Imai posted ERAs of 2.34 or lower in three straight seasons, including a 1.92 ERA in 2025, with strikeout rate rising from 24.4% in 2023 to 27.8% in 2025 and walk rate falling from 11.4% to 7%. MLBTR projected a $150 million guarantee over six years. The signing team would also owe a tiered posting fee; a $150M deal implies a $24.375M posting fee. The Mets have been linked to Imai.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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