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Japanese Pitcher Imai Faces MLB Deadline: Who Will Sign?

1/1/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Tatsuya Imai, a 27-year-old Japanese pitcher, must sign with Major League Baseball (MLB) by Friday or return to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Yahoo! Japan lists the Chicago White Sox as a leading contender for Imai, but analysts call it a longshot.
Other teams include the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies.
Imai posted a 1.92 ERA and a 27% strikeout rate in 2025, with concerns about his control.

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Story summary

Tatsuya Imai, a 27-year-old Japanese pitcher, must sign with Major League Baseball (MLB) by Friday or return to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Yahoo! Japan lists the Chicago White Sox as a leading contender for Imai, but analysts call it a longshot.
Other teams include the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies.
Imai posted a 1.92 ERA and a 27% strikeout rate in 2025, with concerns about his control.