The Tatsuya Imai rumor mill has yet to really pick up a lot of steam, though that’s perhaps unsurprising given that his posting period lasts into the new year.
One thing making the rounds, however, was a translated bit from a Japanese appearance in which Imai discussed joining an MLB team with established stars from Japan:
Ｑ.ドジャースのような優勝狙えるチームに行きたいのか？倒しにいくのか？今井達也「倒したいですね。(大谷・山本・佐々木選手らと)一緒にプレーするのも、もちろん楽しそうだなと思うんですけど、ああいうチームに勝ってワールドチャンピオンになるのが自分の人生にとって一番価値がある」 #報ステ pic.twitter.com/CFBTQthjSx
— ねこすけ⚾️新アカ (@NekoSuke5_5_2) November 24, 2025Tatsuya Imai when asked about playing for the Dodgers:“I want to beat them… beating a team like that and becoming world champions would be the most valuable thing in my life.”Imai also prefers not to sign with a team that already has Japanese players (via @NekoSuke5_5_2) pic.twitter.com/cCGtPaRrvp
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) November 24, 2025Some people have been taking that to mean that Tatsuya Imai AFFIRMATIVELY does not want to join an MLB team with established Japanese stars already on it. As in, he would refuse to sign with a team like the Cubs.
To me, that felt a little strange for a guy trying to create a market to be out there saying, you know? You’d be eliminating some of the biggest suitors, AND you’d be telling the other suitors that those other clubs aren’t bidding you up.
Sure enough, a more robust translation at MLB.com offers better context for Imai’s quote:
“Of course, I’d enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki,” Imai told the former Major League pitcher and two-time World Baseball Classic champion, “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 ….
“If there were another Japanese player on the same team, I could just ask them about anything, right? But that’s actually not what I’m looking for. In a way, I want to experience that sense of survival. When I come face-to-face with cultural differences, I want to see how I can overcome them on my own — that’s part of what I’m excited about.”
In other words, while Imai MAY have been expressing a little bit of a lack of interest in the Dodgers, specifically, his broader point about other Japanese players is that he isn’t looking specifically to join a club with other Japanese players. He doesn’t feel like he needs that.
Which, of course, is fine. But that’s a far cry from him saying he DEFINITELY WOULD NOT join a team with Japanese players already on it. He’s just saying that’s not a selling point for him, and that joining a team without any Japanese players would be a welcome challenge. Subtle, but meaningful difference if you’re the Cubs, with Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga (for one more year, anyway).
Here’s hoping the Cubs can spin their Japanese infrastructure as a positive for Tatsuya Imai – hey, the challenge of MLB will be tough enough!
I'm fascinated to see where Tatsuya Imai lands.Public sentiment is very positive. Opinions from within orgs have been more split from my convos (some love, some don't).I wandered around our studio at @WatchMarquee to explain what makes him distinct. ? pic.twitter.com/llppwGngEi
— Lance Brozdowski (@LanceBroz) November 21, 2025A full scouting report from @LanceBroz on Tatsuya Imai, a potential Cubs pitching target, including a "really weird" aspect of his game: t.co/6zY3qsES3x
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) November 22, 2025Hence then, the article about having japanese teammates in mlb is not a strong selling point for tatsuya imai was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Having Japanese Teammates in MLB is Not a Strong Selling Point for Tatsuya Imai )
Also on site :