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The New York Yankees enter the offseason with a clear need to bolster their starting rotation. They will be without two of their stars to start the 2026 season.
Gerrit Cole will not be ready for Opening Day after undergoing Tommy John surgery back in March. Carlos Rodon will also miss some time to start the new season after he underwent surgery to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur in his elbow.
So, expect the Bronx Bombers to navigate the starting pitching market and sign a formidable starter. Luckily for them, there are tons of frontline starters to choose from on the open market, or they could always engage with other teams to see what the trade market looks like.
Yankees emerge as one of the favorites to sign three-time NPB All-Star
One player's name has picked up steam over the last few days is Tatsuya Imai. He has been with the Saitama Saibu Lions since 2018, making three All-Star teams, and will be posted on November 19.
Teams will have a 45-day window to get a deal done. If not, he will return to the NPB.
MLB Network's David Vassegh detailed the teams that have emerged as the favorites to sign the hard-throwing righty. Here, he mentions the Yankees with a handful of other teams.
"And speaking of some sources, with my Japanese friends out there, they told me that the Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, and Mets are the leading candidates to sign Imai, along with the Padres, who we know is in desperate need of starting pitching."
The Yankees are grouped with the Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, and San Diego Padres, who are all looking to bolster their starting rotation for the 2026 season and beyond. Watch for these teams to get really aggressive over the next few weeks.
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