Yankees Eyeing Potential Pitching Options
LAS VEGAS — This offseason, the Yankees are in search of a solid rotation while trying to balance the return of key pitchers from injury. One possibility that might catch their attention is Tatsuya Imai, a right-handed pitcher from Japan.
The 27-year-old is set for a transfer on Wednesday, and he’ll have 45 days to sign with a major league team, as noted by his agent, Scott Boras.
Boras mentioned, “When teams talk about Imai, they say, ‘Oh my God.'” He believes Imai’s pitching leaves a lasting impression, saying, “It’s like Tatsuya. I always remember how impressive he is and how well that talent translates.” It seems there’s an excitement around him.
The Yankees have been trying to bring over a Japanese star but haven’t had much luck, with recent attempts to sign players like Aki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto resulting in commitments to the Dodgers instead.
General Manager Brian Cashman noted that the Yankees’ past successes in the Japanese market are “gone.” He expressed interest in attracting players from all over, emphasizing they’d pursue talent both domestically and internationally as needed.
It’s unclear if Imai fits into their plans, especially since they’re facing the absence of pitchers like Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clark Schmidt due to surgeries. They’re clearly looking to boost their pitching depth for the early part of the season.
Cashman shared, “We’re hoping for good health in February, March, and early April, but we can’t rely on that. We need to safeguard our rotation so we don’t struggle right off the bat.” It seems they want to avoid being too thin early on.
On the reliever front, Cashman doesn’t feel the pressure to make big moves at the top of the market, with David Bednar expected to be the closer next year. He mentioned several names for bullpen consideration, including Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, and others, yet the status of non-tender candidates like Mark Leiter Jr. and Ian Hamilton wasn’t addressed.
He concluded by acknowledging the need for improvement in their quality and mentioned they’d continue discussions with free agents, including Devin Williams. Cashman expressed the intent to explore all options available, which is a solid strategy moving forward.
