The entire baseball world will soon turn its eyes to Japan, where one of Nippon Professional Baseball’s best arms is about to become available. Tatsuya Imai, the Seibu Lions’ ace, is officially being posted for MLB teams, and both the New York Yankees and New York Mets are expected to be among his top suitors. His agent, Scott Boras, confirmed that Imai’s posting process will begin on November 19, opening a 45-day window for negotiations with major league clubs.

The Yankees’ Need for a Stopgap Ace

For the Yankees, the timing couldn’t be more critical. On paper, their rotation is loaded — Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt headline a group that, when healthy, can dominate. But health has been the glaring issue, and the front office has already confirmed that all three will open

See Full Page