It may be a new year, but as we enter 2026, the Philadelphia Phillies just put their fans through a familiar test of faith with another failed offseason pursuit of a star Japanese player. Any hope that fans might have had about their chances of landing right-hander Tatsuya Imai ahead of his negotiating window closing was quickly squashed on New Year's Day.
The hope, which always comes with a healthy dose of skepticism, was replaced on Thursday by dejection after news broke that Imai reportedly agreed to a three-year, $54 million deal with the Houston Astros.