The San Francisco Giants are among teams pursuing Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, who was recently posted by the Saitama Seibu Lions of NPB. Imai impressed with a 1.92 ERA over 163 innings last season and could slot in as a No. 3 starter for the Giants' rotation. MLB Network's Jon Morosi called Imai the 'perfect player' for San Francisco.
As Major League Baseball's offseason progresses, the San Francisco Giants are seeking to bolster their starting rotation beyond anchors Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Landen Roupp appeared poised for a key role before suffering an August injury, leaving uncertainty in the staff for 2026.
Tatsuya Imai, a 27-year-old right-hander, has drawn interest from the Giants, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. Posted by Japan's Saitama Seibu Lions, Imai has until January 2 to sign with an MLB team, with the Lions receiving a posting fee based on the contract value. In his most recent NPB season, Imai posted a dominant 1.92 ERA and a 3.96 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 163 innings in 24 starts, averaging 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He features mid-to-upper 90s velocity on his fastball, along with a slider, sinker, changeup, and splitter delivered from a low release point. Though he overcame past command issues—walking fewer than four batters per nine only in his seventh professional season—Imai's pitch mix draws comparisons to Kodai Senga.
"The Giants have already shown interest in Imai, and I believe in many ways he is the perfect player for the San Francisco Giants," Morosi said on MLB Network. "In so many ways, I think Imai is the perfect fit for that ballpark. It's a great environment to pitch in, and his pitch mix is a little similar to [Kodai] Senga. He is a really, really, good pitcher."
The Giants face competition from big-spending clubs like the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs. San Francisco's recent moves under new top executive Buster Posey include signing shortstop Willy Adames, acquiring infielder Rafael Devers in a trade, and hiring Tony Vitello as manager. Historically, the Giants signed the first Japanese player in MLB history, Masanori Murakami, in 1964.