Tatsuya Imai, a 27-year-old right-hander posted by Japan's Saitama Seibu Lions, has expressed a desire to join a team that can compete against the Los Angeles Dodgers rather than signing with them. In an interview, Imai highlighted the appeal of beating the Dodgers' Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki to win a World Series. MLB insider Jon Morosi suggested the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, or San Francisco Giants as ideal landing spots to fulfill that ambition.
Tatsuya Imai's entry into MLB free agency has generated buzz due to his bold comments about the Los Angeles Dodgers. Posted by his NPB team, the Saitama Seibu Lions, Imai told former MLB pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka that while he would enjoy playing with Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki, his priority is to defeat them. "Of course, I'd enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki," Imai said, according to MLB.com, "but winning against a team like that and becoming a world champion would be the most valuable thing in my life. If anything, I'd rather take them down."
Imai arrives with strong credentials from his final NPB season, where he posted a 1.92 ERA and a 3.96 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 24 outings. CBS Sports ranks him as the 12th-best player available on the market, positioning him as one of the top starting pitchers seeking an MLB rotation spot.
MLB Network's Jon Morosi endorsed Imai's competitive mindset, recommending three teams to help him challenge the Dodgers. "If I'm Tatsuya Imai and I want to find a way to challenge the Dodgers... Jays, Padres, Giants," Morosi said. He highlighted the Blue Jays for nearly defeating the Dodgers in the World Series, and the Padres and Giants as divisional rivals in the National League West. A move to any of these clubs could ignite new rivalries and boost Imai's profile in Major League Baseball.