Right-hander Tatsuya Imai is entering the Major League Baseball free agency window on Monday, the Seibu Lions confirmed.

The 27-year-old Japanese righty has 45 days to agree to a contract with an MLB team, following the path of other prominent Nippon Professional Baseball products. He had a 1.92 ERA in 2025 and struck out more than 25 percent of batters faced the past two seasons.

Imai, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 154 pounds, was routinely clocked around 93-95 mph with his fastball last season. The three-time All-Star pitched for eight seasons in NPB. Identifiable by his flowing brown hair, Imai also throws a sinker and slider. ESPN projects Imai as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter at the MLB level.

The New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs

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