USA Today via Reuters
May 1, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) looks on in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
May 1, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) looks on in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
After winning the 2025 World Series, the LA Dodgers are nowhere near slowing down, with their next goal being the three-peat. And with that in mind, they are going for a top Japanese star who is dubbed as the ‘next Yoshinobu Yamamoto’.
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In a recent post by Talkin’ Baseball, they talked about Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai. They wrote, “Japanese RHP Tatsuya Imai will officially be posted this offseason, allowing MLB teams to sign him… The 27-year-old Imai posted a career-best 1.92 ERA and 0.892 WHIP in 2025. Jeff Passan wrote in September that he could receive anywhere from $80M to $200M+.”
Tatsuya Imai, a 27-year-old right-hander from Japan’s Seibu Lions, has officially entered MLB’s posting system. The 5’11” 154-pounder defies the traditional frame of a power pitcher. His posting opens a 45-day window for Major League teams to negotiate, following an eight-season NPB career.
In 2025, Imai went 10–5 with a 1.92 ERA over 163.2 innings, striking out 27 percent of hitters. In his overall career, he holds a 3.15 ERA with a 1.94 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His mid-90s fastball, low arm slot, and deceptive slider—responsible for a 45 percent whiff rate- have earned him comparisons to World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Japanese RHP Tatsuya Imai will officially be posted this offseason, allowing MLB teams to sign him, per @yakyucosmo
The 27 year old Imai posted a career-best 1.92 ERA and 0.892 WHIP in 2025. Jeff Passan wrote in September that he could receive anywhere from $80M to $200M+ pic.twitter.com/RWD3VFXCUy
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) November 10, 2025
Analysts project Imai to sign a deal worth around $200 million, reflecting his value as Japan’s next export. If the Dodgers, already loaded with stars, pursue him, fan reactions could be explosive across baseball. Many believe another blockbuster signing by the Los Angeles Dodgers would further fuel the debate about their spending power and growing dominance.
If Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the Dodgers’ first masterpiece, Tatsuya Imai could be the encore. At this rate, the Dodgers aren’t just winning baseball—they’re quietly buying the script too.
Dodgers fans push the team to make another big signing after the Yamamoto comparison
Fresh off celebrating Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s brilliance and another championship run for the Dodgers, fans are already craving their next headline. Many are urging the Dodgers to chase Japan’s newest sensation, Tatsuya Imai. Because apparently, one generational Japanese ace just isn’t enough for baseball’s most ‘spoiled’ rotation.
“If the Dodgers offer him, then he’s going there.” That comment sums up how Japanese stars now see Los Angeles as the ultimate destination. Even Roki Sasaki, once flirting with the Padres in practice gear, chose Dodger blue instead. The LA Dodgers is the desired destination for Japanese baseball stars.
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“The Dodgers are loading up the Japan national team,” one fan joked, and it’s hard to argue. For fans, it’s starting to feel less like a coincidence and more like a full-on recruitment drive.
“Probably a better pickup for Dodgers than Murakami,” one fan said, and numbers support it. Murakami’s strikeout rate nears 30 percent, and his walk rate has dipped sharply this season. Defensively, his metrics at third base remain below league average, raising more questions than excitement. Meanwhile, Tatsuya Imai’s 1.92 ERA and 27 percent strikeout rate do indeed showcase his talent, and he could add more value to the 2025 World Series champions.
“He’s going to the Dodgers, we don’t need to act like it’s not a forgone conclusion.” This is indeed true, as the history books show. If there is a Japanese star in the market, the Dodgers end up signing them. Tatsuya Imai’s 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts make him an obvious fit for Los Angeles. At this point, it feels less like speculation and more like another Dodger inevitability in motion.
At this point, the Dodgers aren’t chasing talent; they’re just expanding their Tokyo branch in style. Share your thoughts in the comments below.