Tatsuya Imai's negotiation progress revealed; confirmed to be holding meetings with multiple teams in Los Angeles

Tatsuya Imai, the ace pitcher of Japan's Seibu Lions, is pursuing a move to Major League Baseball via the posting system, with his negotiation status updated today (December 29). Sources confirm he is currently in Los Angeles assessing contract proposals from multiple teams with his agent. The market anticipates Imai will secure a contract of at least six years totaling $150 million, with the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs still considered the main contenders.

The 27-year-old right-handed ace of the Seibu Lions, Tatsuya Imai, has officially entered the contract negotiation phase recently. According to interviews conducted by Sports Hochi with insiders, he is negotiating contract terms with his agent Scott Boras in Los Angeles and has held face-to-face meetings with several teams.

Tatsuya Imai is regarded as one of the most talked-about starting pitchers on this offseason’s free-agent market. His 45-day posting negotiation window began at 8 a.m. Eastern Time on November 19 and will close at 5 p.m. on January 2 next year. Previously, it was reported that around 10 teams, including the Yankees and San Diego Padres, are competing for him.

In an exclusive interview with Asahi TV’s "Hōdō Station" on November 24, Tatsuya Imai explicitly expressed his desire to “defeat the Dodgers,” admitting that rather than joining a powerhouse team, he aspires to beat the Dodgers—who have Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki—and win the World Series. This statement was later picked up by MLB’s official website and other American media, sparking widespread discussion.

ESPN reporter Jeff Passan also reported earlier this month that the Yankees, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies were considered the top three potential destinations at that time. During the Winter Meetings, Boras emphasized that many teams remain interested in Imai and that negotiations are still ongoing.

However, the situation has shifted recently. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said in an interview on December 20 that the Yankees have not yet met with Tatsuya Imai and are uncertain if such a meeting will be arranged, leading the public to increasingly view the Cubs as the frontrunner.

The market widely expects Tatsuya Imai to secure a major contract worth approximately $150 million over six years. Which team this Japanese ace will ultimately join is anticipated to become clearer in the near future.