Japanese baseball player Tatsuya Imai is facing uncertainty as the deadline for him to sign with a Major League Baseball team approaches. Imai, who has enjoyed success in the Nippon Professional Baseball league, was posted on November 19 and has until Friday to finalize terms with a franchise. If he remains unsigned, he will be ineligible to move to the big leagues this year.
Imai recently appeared on a Japanese television program, where he discussed the lack of concrete options on the table. He noted that teams have shown interest, but formal offers have not materialized. Imai cited the examples of Masataka Yoshida and Munetaka Murakami, two Japanese players who signed with MLB teams this offseason, to illustrate the unpredictability of the process.
Yoshida signed with the Boston Red Sox in a deal that was wrapped up quickly, while Murakami’s negotiation process was more complex. Murakami ultimately signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the Chicago White Sox just one day before his negotiation period expired. Imai’s situation is similar, with expectations that he would be a highly sought-after starting pitcher, but so far, no offers have been reported.
Former MLB player Chris Gimenez has urged the Chicago Cubs to sign Imai, citing the team’s need for starting pitching depth. Gimenez believes that the Cubs should be looking to sign Imai and other free agents to strengthen their rotation. Projections suggest that signing Imai could cost around $135 million.
The deadline for Imai to sign with an MLB team is Friday at 2 P.M. PT. If he is unsigned by then, he will not be eligible to play in the big leagues this year. The situation is being closely watched by baseball fans and analysts, who are eager to see where Imai will end up. With the clock ticking, Imai’s future in MLB remains uncertain.