The Saitama Seibu Lions introduced (Japanese language hyperlink) on their official group web site that they’ve accepted Tatsuya Imai’s request to be posted to Main League groups. As soon as Imai is formally posted, he’ll have 45 days to work out a contract with an enormous league group, or else he’ll return to the Lions for the 2026 Nippon Skilled Baseball season.
It has been over two months since experiences first surfaced in regards to the chance of Imai’s availability this winter, and at this time’s information formally confirms the three-time NPB All-Star as some of the intriguing arms of the 2025-26 free agent class. Imai has a 3.15 ERA over 963 2/3 profession innings with the Lions, with a 22.31% strikeout charge and a 11.52% stroll charge. Whereas that profession stroll charge is on the excessive aspect, Imai has lowered that quantity in every of his final 4 seasons, and he had a really strong 7.02% stroll charge over 163 2/3 innings in 2025.
Imai is barely 27, and doesn’t flip 28 till Could. Between his age and an intriguing four-pitch arsenal (headlined by a fastball within the 95-99mph vary and a plus slider), there’s rather a lot to love when it comes to how Imai’s success in NPB would possibly translate towards Main League hitters. This upside led MLBTR to position Imai seventh on our listing of the offseason’s prime 50 free brokers, and we’re predicting a six-year, $150MM deal although some evaluators really feel Imai tasks as a back-end starter and even as a reliever within the majors.
Imai qualifies for full free company subsequent offseason, so the Lions could really feel that they will at the least earn some a refund through a posting free by letting Imai go now quite than 12 months from now. As per the phrases of the MLB-NPB posting system, any Main League group that reaches an settlement with Imai will owe the Lions a staggered payment relying on the scale of the deal, and on any future earnings (i.e. choices, bonuses, and so forth.) connected to that preliminary contract.
The Lions will get 20% of the contract’s first $25MM, 17.5% of the contract’s subsequent $25MM, and 15% of any cash above the $50MM mark. So if Imai had been to signal a deal matching MLBTR’s $150MM projection, his new group would owe the Lions a $24.375MM posting payment on prime of Imai’s $150MM wage.
