The Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees have emerged as the main finalists for starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai, with the Philadelphia Phillies also in the mix. His deadline to sign is January 2, which is rapidly approaching. Once Christmas has passed, all eyes will turn to the 27-year-old, who is represented by Scott Boras.
Jack Curry of YES Network reported Tuesday evening that he doesn’t believe Imai will end up in the Bronx. “The vibe between Imai and the Yankees does not exist,” Curry said on YES Network’s Hot Stove. Instead, Ryan Yarbrough was mentioned as a potential option to help fill the void in the starting rotation created by several injuries the team has encountered.
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The vibe that Jack Curry is getting with the Yankees and Tatsuya Imai is that the connection “does not exist”.
He believes Imai will not sign with them. pic.twitter.com/QAgKWErsdt
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) December 23, 2025
If the Yankees are indeed out on Imai, this could set Jed Hoyer up to make his big splash of the offseason. Hoyer has made it a point to create a positive reputation in Japan, with hopes of landing big stars making the transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball. Seiya Suzuki and Shōta Imanaga have both had successful moves overseas, which serve as ringing endorsements of the Cubs and their hospitality toward Japanese players.
Adding Imai’s velocity to the top of the Cubs’ rotation would give them a different look compared to the soft-throwing arms currently slotted to start games. He has significant upside, which is exactly what the Cubs should be targeting after winning 92 games in 2025.
Making two big acquisitions does not appear to be in the Cubs’ budget this winter, meaning that if they do land Imai, that likely ends their shopping at the top of the market. Ultimately, it feels more beneficial to bolster the rotation and lean on prospects for the lineup rather than trying to piece together the final spot in the pitching staff.
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