The New York Yankees are signaling a strong intention to re-engage with the Japanese player market this offseason, aiming to rekindle a significant aspect of their recruiting strategy. This ambition was underscored by team owner Hal Steinbrenner, who emphasized the importance of adding Japanese talent to the roster.
“Having Japanese representation on the Yankees is certainly beneficial,” Steinbrenner remarked on Monday. “In the past, we actively pursued players like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, although it ultimately didn’t materialize for us. Nevertheless, the presence of Japanese players is crucial.”
Steinbrenner acknowledged the immense popularity of baseball in Japan and the enthusiastic support from Japanese fans in the U.S., expressing the Yankees’ commitment to continue their efforts in this market. “Baseball holds a special place in Japan, and many fans here would be thrilled to see a Japanese player don the Yankees’ pinstripes,” he noted.
Echoing this sentiment, General Manager Brian Cashman pointed out during the GM meetings in November that the Yankees’ success in recruiting top Japanese talent has been elusive since they last signed Masahiro Tanaka in 2014. Cashman admitted that it’s been “too long” since the team secured one of the major stars from Japan.
Fortunately, the upcoming offseason promises opportunities as several standout Japanese players are expected to become available after being posted by their Nippon Professional Baseball teams. Among these potential recruits, Imai stands out as a premier free agent on the international stage.
SP TATSUYA IMAI
Imai is the clear top free agent on the international market.
The right-handed pitcher boasted a 1.92 ERA in 24 games during his 2025 NPB season and he has an attitude that may fit the bill for success in New York.
In a recent interview, Imai expressed a desire to beat the Dodgers rather than join them. He also expressed interest in being the lone Japanese presence on a team.
The 27-year-old features a fastball that sits in the mid-90’s but can reach up to 99. His slider and splitter are his swing-and-miss pitches. If the Yankees are going to get on the board with a Japanese signing this offseason, Imai may be the most likely target.
1B/3B MUNETAKA MURAKAMI
Murakami was expected to be the big prize for the 2025 offseason, however, a few down seasons in NPB puts his status in question.
After an impressive run at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, coming off a 56-homer season, Murakami hasn’t surpassed 33 homers in any of the following seasons with incredibly concerning strikeout numbers — 180 K’s in 143 games during 2024.
Murakami also had a .095 batting average against pitches 93 mph or harder last season in NPB.
The 25-year-old will likely be seen as more of a project signing as opposed to the slam dunk he was anticipated to be.
1B/3B KAZUMA OKAMOTO
Okamoto fits a profile that may interest the Yankees. The first baseman slashed .327/.411/.581 with 15 homers and 49 RBI in 77 games this season.
The 29-year-old right-handed hitter could balance a left-handed-heavy Bombers lineup.
The Yomiyuri Giants captain is touted for his excellent plate discipline and contact-oriented approach — with some room for power as well.
It remains to be seen which direction the Yankees go in to improve their lineup, however, Okamoto could be a cost-efficient option to shuffle the cards for a lineup that is in need of a bit of a new look towards the bottom.
