It’s not a new rumor to say the Chicago Cubs are interested in Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai. They have been connected in multiple reports, and the fit is otherwise quite obvious. You have a Japanese star (Cubs are strong in that area, though have two Japanese players hitting free agency after next season) coming over at age 27 (Cubs, like everyone, prefer pitcher youth if possible), who cannot be attached to draft pick compensation, and you have a club with a need in the front half of their rotation. It would’ve been really weird if the Cubs weren’t interested. Heck, the only explanation would’ve been that they think he’ll stink.
Since that doesn’t seem to be anyone’s belief – though opinions are certainly mixed on just how good Imai could be in the end – obviously the Cubs are involved in the discussions.
Yet another report from a new source indicates as much:
Cubs are among many teams showing interest in star Japanese righthander Tatsuya Imai. Cubs have done very well in Japanese market — Imanaga, Suzuki, etc.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 8, 2025For all the reasons above, including the previous reports, I have no reason to doubt the veracity of what Heyman is saying. The Cubs very likely do have interest in signing Tatsuya Imai at some price level.
That said, I do think we have to keep a couple things in mind.
First, with Scott Boras as his agent and a signing window that doesn’t close until early January, we’re still in that phase of pursuit where it behooves Imai’s camp to make sure the world knows about EVERY plausible suitor who has even had a cursory conversation. Lotta opportunity to do that this week in Orlando. Doesn’t mean the conversation isn’t legit. It just means that it could be super preliminary, even at this point, and the value of the report getting out is to keep on floating the market.
Second, there is another value to the report getting out, and it’s on the other side of the coin. Rumors about the Cubs’ pitching search have been heating up in recent days, and for all we know, they have a preferred target or two who (1) aren’t Tatsuya Imai, and who (2) are going to be signed or traded in the next few days. If that’s the case, then the Cubs would have a reason to want the world to know that they are also involved on Imai – maybe even sincerely and seriously – so that other free agents or trade partners have that in mind if and when talks happen with the Cubs this week.
So that’s kinda where I land on this report. I think it’s almost certainly true. I think the Cubs almost certainly would consider signing Imai. And I also think it benefits everyone involved to let that get out at the start of the Winter Meetings.
UPDATE: Heyman talked about the Cubs and Imai on his latest live stream, and he really dedicated some space to it (specifically punting on other Cubs pitching questions because he wanted to save it later for a segment where he was talking solely about the Cubs and Imai). “I feel like there’s a decent chance of this,” Heyman said. He wouldn’t say a signing is going to happen any time soon, but clearly Heyman’s sources think there’s real smoke there.
A little more on the pitcher, if you’re unfamiliar, from our previous discussions:
Tatsuya Imai, 27, has been about 25 to 30% better than league average in the NPB by ERA- over the last four years, with peripherals that have gotten better and better over the years. This past season, he paired a 27.8% K rate with a 7.0% BB rate, and posted a 1.92 ERA over 163.2 innings, and it’s not hard to see why now might be the time to capitalize on a move to Major League Baseball.
Part of what will make Imai so intriguing to MLB teams, in addition to his age, is that he’s one of the hardest-throwing starters in Japan. He sits 95mph+, and apparently reaches 99mph. Couple that with a slider, changeup, splitter mix, and the pieces are there for a guy to succeed in the transition to MLB.
For that reason, the expectation is that Imai’s contract will likely be in the nine figures – Jeff Passan heard guesses in the $140 to $150 million range, and that’s before the $20+ million posting fee – and that’s where the questions will come in about whether the Cubs will be sufficiently aggressive to sign him. The Cubs aren’t perpetually out on nine-figure pitchers, but the last one they signed was Yu Darvish some seven years ago.
Maybe Tatsuya Imai’s age will spur the Cubs on a bit more than usual, together with the ability to keep building out the Japan pipeline. But you have to figure that Imai will be highly sought-after, and you’re not only going to have to recruit him well to your city, you’ll also probably have to win a bidding war.
Of course, if you believe in the pitcher, then I would argue there is no team in baseball that benefits more from adding an impact, top-of-the-rotation arm. Yes, other clubs – most clubs? – could benefit as much as the Cubs. But more? No. The Cubs need a guy like Tatsuya Imai as much as any other team, and we saw it late in the year.
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