Tatsuya Imai to the Astros

[Geographyhater8888]

46 minutes ago, Hot Sauce said:

Stay out of Culver’s, fatty! 

I said horsefeathers jt after clicking the exit tab for the 80th time only for the pop up ads to reappear. 

Edited December 14, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Geographyhater8888 said:

I said horsefeathers jt after clicking the exit tab for the 80th time only for the pop ads to reappear. 

It could be worse--I get all my ads for Hondas and other cars in Spanish.

[chibears55]

Supposedly down to Yankees and Cubs for Imai, I guess if true, if the Cubs are willing to spend on Imai, if they lose out there then they should be all in on King or maybe Gallen.

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Supposedly down to Yankees and Cubs for Imai, I guess if true, if the Cubs are willing to spend on Imai, if they lose out there then they should be all in on King or maybe Gallen.

I think Imai or King. If neither than trade for a starter. Gallen isn’t the answer for me. 

[chibears55]

27 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

I think Imai or King. If neither than trade for a starter. Gallen isn’t the answer for me. 

I just threw Gallen name out there, I guess they could also go for Valdez and Suarez too if they want to add another lefty and lose out on King.

A trade is also a route to take but I do wonder if Hoyer is willing to move any of his current top prospects now for a top end SP.

Let just hope they get Imai and can move on to the next need, a solid bat

Edited December 17, 2025 by chibears55

[Rcal10]

3 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

I just threw Gallen name out there, I guess they could also go for Valdez and Suarez too if they want to add another lefty and lose out on King.

A trade is also a route to take but I do wonder if Hoyer is willing to move any of his current top prospects now for a top end SP.

Let just hope they get Imai and can move on to the next need, a solid bat

Agreed. For me it’s Imai or King. Then a bat. Maybe they have enough money for Okamoto. If not we are looking and Andujar or someone in the $6M to $9M range. 

[squally1313]

14 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Agreed. For me it’s Imai or King. Then a bat. Maybe they have enough money for Okamoto. If not we are looking and Andujar or someone in the $6M to $9M range. 

This isn't really directed at you but since you started talking about 'maybe they have enough money'.

I feel like we've all been using that first luxury tax threshold as the number because it's an easy benchmark, but at this point I think it's more just....is Jed willing to get a little rash on actual needle moving players or not. We reset the luxury tax penalty last year, and even if we somehow add like $40m in 2027 money between now and March, that only puts us at, per FG, $95m for 2027 going into next offseason. I don't know about you guys, but the idea of Hoyer adding $140m in AAV next offseason, even setting aside the potential strike, is highly, highly unlikely.

So you're at a 20% penalty on any overages with a near-zero chance of falling into the repeater penalty, which is just not a significant enough penalty. Hoyer just needs to spend as much money as he can. 

[Tryptamine]

8 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

This isn't really directed at you but since you started talking about 'maybe they have enough money'.

I feel like we've all been using that first luxury tax threshold as the number because it's an easy benchmark, but at this point I think it's more just....is Jed willing to get a little rash on actual needle moving players or not. We reset the luxury tax penalty last year, and even if we somehow add like $40m in 2027 money between now and March, that only puts us at, per FG, $95m for 2027 going into next offseason. I don't know about you guys, but the idea of Hoyer adding $140m in AAV next offseason, even setting aside the potential strike, is highly, highly unlikely.

So you're at a 20% penalty on any overages with a near-zero chance of falling into the repeater penalty, which is just not a significant enough penalty. Hoyer just needs to spend as much money as he can. 

If Jed was willing to spend a little, nothing crazy like completely blowing past the 1st tier by 50M, but going past the first tier he could add Imai, Fairbanks, Okamoto and Refsnyder and make the Cubs heavy division favorites and in the top 3 for the NL with the Dodgers and Phillies. He wont do it, but he could.

[mul21]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

If Jed was willing to spend a little, nothing crazy like completely blowing past the 1st tier by 50M, but going past the first tier he could add Imai, Fairbanks, Okamoto and Refsnyder and make the Cubs heavy division favorites and in the top 3 for the NL with the Dodgers and Phillies. He wont do it, but he could.

Like squally said, if there's a year to do it, it's 2026.  I'll be skeptical until it happens based on recent history, but it's certainly something that makes sense and shouldn't be dismissed out of hand.

[Post Count Padder]

So when is the Imai deadline? And did I hear he wanted a deal before Christmas anyway?

[Bertz]

7 minutes ago, Post Count Padder said:

So when is the Imai deadline? And did I hear he wanted a deal before Christmas anyway?

His deadline is Jan 2.  So you'd suspect he'd probably want to be settled before Christmas, and definitely before New Years. 

I suspect the smoke coming out now is because he's done his visits and things are finally moving.

[muntjack]

I really thought that with the surplus of position player prospects at the door, we'd see a trade for a cost-controlled starter.  If they land Imai, I wonder what the plan is?  Caissie has 1000 PAs at Iowa, Alcantara is right there, Ballesteros' bat is ready....  

[chibears55]

28 minutes ago, muntjack said:

I really thought that with the surplus of position player prospects at the door, we'd see a trade for a cost-controlled starter.  If they land Imai, I wonder what the plan is?  Caissie has 1000 PAs at Iowa, Alcantara is right there, Ballesteros' bat is ready....  

Maybe it plan B if he doesn't land Imai or King but you have to wonder if Hoyer could be hesitant in trading those top guys with the probability of needing them to replace the ones on their final year of contract.

There really isnt a top position player prospects to turn to after Caissie Ballesteros and Alcantara until maybe 2028 with Rojas or Hernandez. 

[Rcal10]

3 hours ago, squally1313 said:

This isn't really directed at you but since you started talking about 'maybe they have enough money'.

I feel like we've all been using that first luxury tax threshold as the number because it's an easy benchmark, but at this point I think it's more just....is Jed willing to get a little rash on actual needle moving players or not. We reset the luxury tax penalty last year, and even if we somehow add like $40m in 2027 money between now and March, that only puts us at, per FG, $95m for 2027 going into next offseason. I don't know about you guys, but the idea of Hoyer adding $140m in AAV next offseason, even setting aside the potential strike, is highly, highly unlikely.

So you're at a 20% penalty on any overages with a near-zero chance of falling into the repeater penalty, which is just not a significant enough penalty. Hoyer just needs to spend as much money as he can. 

I agree with you that is what they should do. But I have my doubts they will. I do not disagree with any of your reasoning. If not this year, then when. Sign Imai sign Fairbanks and sign Bregman. Go $30M over the first tier. So what. But we have talked for years of them spending more than they end up spending. So until they do spend more, I choose to keep the expectations low. 

[Tryptamine]

1 hour ago, muntjack said:

I really thought that with the surplus of position player prospects at the door, we'd see a trade for a cost-controlled starter.  If they land Imai, I wonder what the plan is?  Caissie has 1000 PAs at Iowa, Alcantara is right there, Ballesteros' bat is ready....  

Alcantara is your back up CF right now. Caissie probably covers RF once Seiya leaves after this season. So sadly it's probably Ballesteros as the odd man out and he's the the one I'd least want to trade.

[CubUgly]

18 hours ago, Rcal10 said:

I think Imai or King. If neither than trade for a starter. Gallen isn’t the answer for me. 

There's an old saying in sports - it's not the guys you don't get that kill you - it's the one's you get that aren't good (or at least not anymore) that kill you.  For me at least Gallen would be in that category  Don't sign and SP just to sign one. 

[Rcal10]

11 minutes ago, CubUgly said:

There's an old saying in sports - it's not the guys you don't get that kill you - it's the one's you get that aren't good (or at least not anymore) that kill you.  For me at least Gallen would be in that category  Don't sign and SP just to sign one. 

I don’t think Gallen kills the Cubs. He is a fine pitcher. He is a solid #3 starter and would lengthen any rotation. I don’t want him because the Cubs need to take a shot at something more than that.

[Bertz]

10 minutes ago, CubUgly said:

There's an old saying in sports - it's not the guys you don't get that kill you - it's the one's you get that aren't good (or at least not anymore) that kill you.  For me at least Gallen would be in that category  Don't sign and SP just to sign one. 

Ironically this would be my argument in favor of Gallen.  I know he had a rough first half of 2025 but otherwise he's been consistently good and durable.  Other options have major health (King, Cabrera) or performance (Imai) questions.

Basically I view Gallen as a safe bet to be deluxe Jameson Taillon, while the others have much more boom and bust potential.

[CubUgly]

8 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Ironically this would be my argument in favor of Gallen.  I know he had a rough first half of 2025 but otherwise he's been consistently good and durable.  Other options have major health (King, Cabrera) or performance (Imai) questions.

Basically I view Gallen as a safe bet to be deluxe Jameson Taillon, while the others have much more boom and bust potential.

I respect that opinion - and if we do end up with him I hope your are correct.  I just don't like where he seems to be trending.  For me to much hoping involved for the money he would require. 

[Rcal10]

8 minutes ago, CubUgly said:

I respect that opinion - and if we do end up with him I hope your are correct.  I just don't like where he seems to be trending.  For me to much hoping involved for the money he would require. 

Actually when comparing him to Suarez and Valdez, he comes out pretty equal. He had a bad first half of the season last year, but even with that, his career numbers are right there with those two guys. And he is younger than Valdez. Plus he is a right handed pitcher, which I would rather have. Me originally saying he doesn’t do it for me is because I want to take the chance on Imai or King. I think Imai has a chance at being good for a long time and King has more upside than Gallen. But if they did end up with Gallen, it wouldn’t be that splash signing, but it wouldn’t be terrible. If/when they lose out on the top 2 targets, Gallen gets more interesting IMO. But not until them. 

[CubUgly]

18 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

 Me originally saying he doesn’t do it for me is because I want to take the chance on Imai or King. I think Imai has a chance at being good for a long time and King has more upside than Gallen. But if they did end up with Gallen, it wouldn’t be that splash signing, but it wouldn’t be terrible. If/when they lose out on the top 2 targets, Gallen gets more interesting IMO. But not until them. 

Yes, to your point above, I am of this opinion, I'd rather play for the high ceiling than the high floor here.  I understand those who would push for the safer of the two, but I'm about tired of that. 

[Bull]

4 minutes ago, CubUgly said:

Yes, to your point above, I am of this opinion, I'd rather play for the high ceiling than the high floor here.  I understand those who would push for the safer of the two, but I'm about tired of that. 

I'm typically a high floor guy, but right now the Cubs have tons of high floor. A lot of that floor is in the form of elite defense, which I don't anticipate waning (maybe Dansby and Happ a touch).

With a good floor established, give me the risk. Give me Imai. 

[Rcal10]

4 minutes ago, Bull said:

I'm typically a high floor guy, but right now the Cubs have tons of high floor. A lot of that floor is in the form of elite defense, which I don't anticipate waning (maybe Dansby and Happ a touch).

With a good floor established, give me the risk. Give me Imai. 

Agree. Until Imai and maybe King, are signed elsewhere I have no interest in Gallen. Aim higher! 

[chibears55]

Hopefully Imanaga and Suzuki has been having conversations with Imai about how good it is to live and play for the Cubs...

🤷‍♂️😏

[Cuzi]

4 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Hopefully Imanaga and Suzuki has been having conversations with Imai about how good it is to live and play for the Cubs...

🤷‍♂️😏

Not sure it matters if you take Imai at his word of not wanting to be on a team with his kind.