Mets interested in Japanese right-hander Imai TatsuyaAccording to SNY’s Andy Martino. Imai has yet to make an official announcement, but his team, the NPB Saitama Seibu Lions, recently announced their intention to do so. Martino noted that the level of interest from the Mets is not what it used to be. Yoshinobu Yamamoto Two offseasons ago, that meant Imai was just one of several departments the club was considering.
Imai, 27, has pitched for the Lions for eight years and is a three-time NPB All-Star. After middling success in his first three seasons from 2018-20, he posted a 3.30 ERA in 25 starts in 2021 and has posted an ERA below 3.00 in every full season since (he made just nine starts in 2022). This year, Imai posted a career-best 1.92 ERA in 163 2/3 innings in 24 starts. He also set a career-high with a 27.8% strikeout rate while lowering his walk rate to a career-low 7.0%. Highlights of his season were his first eight innings of combined no-hitter on April 18, and his 17 strikeouts on June 17, breaking his previous club record. Daisuke Matsuzaka.
The NPB requires players to serve nine years before becoming an unrestricted free agent. By allowing Imai to transfer to the MLB a year early, the Lions will receive an induction fee based on the value of his contract. We at MLBTR offered Imai a six-year, $150MM contract and ranked him seventh on our list of 50 free agents. Based on this projection, any team that signs would owe the Lions $24.375MM in release fees. In terms of material, Imai has a 95-99 mph fastball as well as a slider and changeup. Based on his profile and his recent performance, he would be an interesting target for a club in need of a starting pitcher. Still, Martino noted that the industry’s opinion on his ability to become a MLB starter is mixed.
As for the Mets, it’s no surprise they want to bolster their rotation. In 2025, the club’s starters ranked 18th in the majors with a 4.13 ERA, although they did lead the league in ground ball rate at 49.4%. David Peterson, Clay Holmesand Gao Da Xian Jia Although Senga missed a month with a strained right hamstring and was optioned to the minors in September, he started just 22 games. Peterson is worth 3.1 fWAR this year and is expected to earn $7.6 in arbitration, while Holmes is under contract for $13 with a player option for 2027. Beyond those three, the rotation is less certain. Frankie Montas Refusing to withdraw from his contract, he is a candidate to be released as he will miss next season while recovering from surgery at UCL in August. Sean Manaea He missed most of 2025 due to a strained right oblique muscle and struggled when he returned. If signed, Imai could provide a stable rotation with Peterson, Holmes and Senga.
