Japanese free agent Imai would rather take Dodgers down than join them

As the Los Angeles Dodgers showcased this October, the current contingent of Japanese stars in MLB has never been stronger.

While there are a number of Japanese players littered across the majors right now, there is perhaps no more appealing landing spot for those crossing the Pacific than the Dodgers. The repeat World Series champions have both the money to spend and a deep group of stars led by Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.

Sounds like a solid fit for the likes of Tatsuya Imai, Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto as they enter international free agency this winter, right?

For Imai, a right-handed starter, that might not quite be the case.

Speaking recently with former World Series champion Daisuke Matsuzaka on the show, “Hodo Station,” Imai said he’d welcome the