TOKYO (AP) — Tatsuya Imai is likely to be the next Japanese pitcher to move Major League Baseball after the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions said Monday he will be made available to teams through the posting process.

A 27-year-old right-hander, Imai was 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA this season, striking out 178 in 163 2/3 innings.

A three-time All-Star, he pitched eight innings of a combined no-hitter against Fukuoka on April 18. Imai struck out 17 against Yokohama on June 17, breaking Daisuke Matsuzaka’s prior team record of 16 from 2004.

Imai is 58-45 with a 3.15 ERA in eight seasons with Seibu, striking out 907 in 963 2/3 innings.

Under MLB’s posting agreement with Nippon Professional Baseball, a player may be posted from Nov. 1 until Dec. 15 and a posted player has 45 days to reach an agreemen

See Full Page