The Chicago Cubs need starting pitching during the 2025 MLB offseason. Ever since Chicago was eliminated from the postseason, the organization has been linked to several pitchers, including Dylan Cease, before he signed in Toronto. Now, the Cubs are being connected to a star Japanese pitcher.
According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, the Cubs are among many teams interested in signing star right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai from MLB free agency. Imai, 27, recently played for the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, but has finally been posted to MLB.
The 27-year-old pitcher has a strong market, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him earn $200 million on his first MLB contract. Imai has an excellent fastball, which might be his bread-and-butter pitch, but he also throws a slider and a changeup from a sidearm release point.
Chicago has done very well in the Japanese market after signing Seiya Suzuki in 2022 and Shot Imanaga in 2024. The Cubs need more starting pitching, and with Imanaga back in Chicago, it could help their pursuit of Imai. The MLB organization will be active this offseason, and it could start with Imai.
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