Tatsuya Imai Available for MLB Teams This Offseason
The Saitama Seibu Lions have announced that Tatsuya Imai will be posted for Major League Baseball (MLB) teams this offseason. This decision allows Imai to pursue opportunities in the big leagues.
Tatsuya Imai’s MLB Posting Timeline
Once officially posted, Imai will have 45 days to negotiate a contract with an MLB team. If no agreement is reached, he will return to the Lions for the 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball season.
About Tatsuya Imai
Tatsuya Imai is a 27-year-old pitcher who has established himself as a significant presence in Nippon Professional Baseball. With a career ERA of 3.15 over 963.2 innings, he boasts a strikeout rate of 22.31% and a walk rate of 11.52%.
Performance Improvements
- Imai has gradually decreased his walk rate over the past four seasons.
- His walk rate improved to 7.02% during the 2025 season, covering 163.2 innings.
Pitching Skills and Projections
Imai is noted for his four-pitch repertoire, including a fastball that reaches 95-99 mph and a strong slider. These skills position him as one of the most intriguing prospects in the upcoming free-agent class.
MLB Trade Rumors ranked Imai as the seventh top free agent for this offseason, predicting a lucrative six-year contract worth $150 million. Despite this optimistic outlook, some experts believe he may fit better as a back-end starter or reliever in MLB.
Financial Aspects of Posting
If Imai signs with a Major League team, the Lions will benefit financially through the MLB-NPB posting system. The fee structure for the Lions is as follows:
| Contract Value | Posting Fee Percentage |
|---|---|
| First $25 million | 20% |
| Next $25 million | 17.5% |
| Any amount above $50 million | 15% |
Should Imai’s contract meet the projected amount of $150 million, the posting fee owed to the Lions would be approximately $24.375 million, making his potential signing significant for both parties.
