"The Tatsuya Imai news dominated MLB conversations on Thursday, in part because there was virtually nothing else to discuss. Cubs fans weren't the only ones lamenting their team's unwillingness to sign the Japanese righty for what amounted to peanuts relative to his initial contract projections, but it's not always as simple as matching or beating a financial offer. That is particularly true for players coming over from NPB, as we've seen more than once in the past."
"Everyone remains so focused on Shohei Ohtani's groundbreaking Dodgers deal that they forget how he first signed with the Angels under the restrictions of international free agency. The same was true for Rōki Sasaki, whose early departure subjected him to even stricter bonus constraints based on his timing in the IFA period. The Dodgers' popularity in Japan certainly aided his decision, but that was obviously not the case for Imai."
"Earlier in the winter, the righty told Japanese television that he wanted to "experience that survival vibe" of playing on a team that didn't have other Japanese players. He also noted a desire to overcome cultural differences on his own terms, which would make Houston a more desirable location than LA or Chicago on more than one front. There is an interesting wrinkle in that Japanese manufacturer Daikin purchased naming rights to the Astros' ballpark last year, though that could be nothing more than coincidence."
Tatsuya Imai's decision drew widespread MLB attention and criticism of teams unwilling to match offers that seemed small relative to earlier projections. NPB-to-MLB signings involve more than money because international free-agency timing and bonus rules can constrain contracts. Shohei Ohtani and Rōki Sasaki faced specific IFA restrictions that shaped their early deals. Imai expressed a desire to "experience that survival vibe" by joining a team without other Japanese players and to overcome cultural differences independently, making Houston appealing. Daikin's purchase of Astros naming rights adds a curious connection. Reports showed Houston made stronger offers, while Cubs pursued terms aligning with their standard operating procedure.
Read at Cubsinsider
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