It took the New York Yankees 12 full hours into 2026 to infuriate their fans. That must be some kind of new record.
With Japanese starter Tatsuya Imai's posting deadline looming on Jan. 2, a decision was guaranteed to either illuminate the Yankees' offseason unexpectedly or deliver an early blow. As Jack Curry crowed for weeks that the two sides had very little genuine connection, it seemed inevitable he'd go elsewhere. The only question was how much the destination would hurt, and how attainable the price point would look.
Would it be the White Sox, an out-of-nowhere contender for Japanese stars' services after Munetaka Murakami's decision?