The Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees have emerged as the main finalists for starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai, with the Philadelphia Phillies also in the mix. His deadline to sign is January 2, which is rapidly approaching. Once Christmas has passed, all eyes will turn to the 27-year-old, who is represented by Scott Boras.
Jack Curry of YES Network reported Tuesday evening that he doesn’t believe Imai will end up in the Bronx. “The vibe between Imai and the Yankees does not exist,” Curry said on YES Network’s Hot Stove. Instead, Ryan Yarbrough was mentioned as a potential option to help fill the void in the starting rotation created by several injuries the team has encountered.