Yankees officially lose Japanese star Tatsuya Imai to eternally infuriating rival

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? Would it be a painless National League club like the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, or Chicago Cubs? Somehow, the situation grew murkier as time pressed on, so much so that Yankee fans even tricked themselves into believing they might have a shot in the dark after all, given the lack of chatter.

Well, that ... didn't happen. In the end, Imai chose the Houston Astros, a team he hadn't been publicly connected to whatsoever. It's a three-year deal with opt outs, and it's the largest AAV for a Japanese pitcher (other than Yoshinobu Yamamoto). It's an ideal fit for a player whose jump in 2025 whiff rate may or may not be sustainable. It's not a long-term commitment. It's not really ... much of anything. It's the type of deal smart teams make, and silly teams that have self-capped avoid.

Yankees decline to sign Tatsuya Imai, who goes to Houston Astros instead

So, just so we're clear, the Astros fell out of the playoffs in 2025. Instead of receding and regressing, they decided to bulk up their pitching staff and attempt to regenerate. That's the name of the game. The Yankees, as they often do, decided to open their rival's door for them instead of making a statement.

The Yanks didn't want to make another multi-year $25 million commitment to a rotation that already includes Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Max Fried. And they didn't have to! If Imai succeeds, it's a $21 million pact for only one season. And even that was somehow unpalatable for a Yankees team that doesn't seem to understand its own weaknesses. Happy New Year, indeed. Same as the old year.