"Stars are aligning for Yankees to get Tatsuya Imai" - Sportscaster issues verdict about Japanese ace's MLB landing spot

The New York Yankees are looking to strengthen their roster in the offseason and Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai has emerged as one of the coveted names to be linked with the team.

Imai was posted to MLB teams by the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball last week, and his signing window ends on January 2 at 5 p.m.

Sportscaster Alex Wilson said on the Fireside Yankees Podcast that the AL East franchise is primed to sign the top Japanese arm.

"All the stars are aligning for the Yankees to get this player," Wilson said on the podcast.

Imai had expressed his desire to join a winning team after he was posted by the NPB team this month.

"Every season, I have played with the goal of winning the league championship and the Japan Series, and that ambition will not change with a new team," Imai said. "I will continue to compete with a strong desire to win and do my best to contribute to my team’s success."

The Japanese ace played eight seasons in the NPB with the Seibu Lions and boasts a 2.18. career ERA over 480 innings. He is coming off a solid 2025 season where he registered a 1.92 ERA over 163 2/3 innings.

He struck out 178 batters and allowed only six home runs. Imao also threw a combined no-hitter by striking out 17 batters in a two-hit, complete-game shutout over eight innings.

Tatsuya Imai throws shade at Dodgers amid growing Yankees rumors

While his numbers have attracted interest from several MLB teams, the Japanese pitcher sent a strong warning to back-to-back World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I want to take them down...I think beating a team like that and becoming World Champions would be the most valuable thing in my life," Imai said on potentially joining the Dodgers.

The Yankees are strongly linked with the Japanese star, but they are not the only team in the race for the coveted arm, as the San Francisco Giants are also interested in the ace.