The Baltimore Orioles need a functioning pitching rotation going into next season. Injuries and overall poor play from veterans and rookies each played a part in sinking this year’s team, revealing a stunning lack of depth. The entire pitching staff ranked in the bottom five of team ERA, WHIP, and home runs surrendered.
It didn’t help matters that the team auctioned off two pieces of their bullpen at the trade deadline. Aside from Trevor Rogers, who had a tremendous season for the O’s, most of their arms either ended up injured or crashing outright. Mike Elias might be shopping the free agency market this winter to address the gaping holes in the rotation.
A competitive market for pitchers is in the cards for the 2025 MLB offseason, but there is a pitcher the team might aim for.
The Orioles May Target Tatsuya Imai
Tatsuya Imai is a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher from Japan who’s seen a major string of success in the Nippon Professional Baseball league. He made significant progress in his control and in developing his arsenal since starting his career at age 19.
There is some #MLB chatter about the potential posting of Tatsuya Imai. One scout was quoted saying he’d be worth an $80 million contract IF he gets posted. What that scout doesn’t realise is that doesn’t even buy you Imai’s left arm.
Imai is easily a $200+ million player… pic.twitter.com/7ULbw9JY3r
— David MacKinnon デビッド ・マキノン (@DCMacK24) September 5, 2025
Imai posted his best numbers in 2025 for the Saitama Seibu Lions, tossing 152 2/3 innings over 22 starts with a 1.59 ERA. The stats that matter most to the Orioles, home runs and walks surrendered, are low, giving up only four home runs and 42 walks. He also gave up fewer than 100 hits in total the entire season.
When examining the sabermetric side of his productivity, there’s a very lucrative aspect. Nearly 50% of all batted balls are grounders, but only 15% of all contact was hard-hit. Nearly twice as many balls were soft contact compared to hard-hit balls, suggesting his pitches are moving effectively.
His walk rate collapsed to a healthy 7%, while his fielding independent pitching dropped to 1.82. He is also nearing a 30% strikeout rate along with a 3.5% home run to fly-ball ratio. He’s operating at the peak of his career right now.
Imai’s Arsenal is Dominant
Imai holds a five-pitch arsenal that features an effective cutter and slider. His fastball reportedly peaks around 99 miles an hour, which would place him in the upper echelon of current-day pitchers. The last full scouting report done on Imai was from 2023, so there’s likely more information that will be featured if he is posted.
There’s no known information on the more intricate details of movement and spin rate on these pitches. Per Fangraphs, Imai’s fastball grades out at a 60, suggesting a plus-rated four-seamer, along with a slightly plus-graded slider. There are questions about his control, given the eight hit batsmen this year, but it’s really the only current blemish.
There is Competition
If the Orioles were to get Imai, he would easily fit in a one-two combo with Rogers if Grayson Rodriguez‘s development is disrupted from his injuries. They not only have competition in general, but they also have significant competition from the American League East.
Jake Elman of FanSided suggested the New York Yankees are serious contenders for Imai, alongside the San Diego Padres. At the same time, the 27-year-old’s price tag might settle over $200 million for a team. The Orioles have more than enough space to pay Tatsuya Imai if they want him. The question is whether Elias is willing to do that.
Main Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
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