It’s a new year, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have the same rivals.
The Houston Astros signed top Japanese free agent Tatsuya Imai to a three-year, $54 million deal Thursday. Imai has been vocal about wanting to take down the Dodgers dynasty.
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Not long after the Dodgers were crowned World Series champions, Imai was posted by his NPB team. On the show “Hodo Station,” Imai revealed he was prepared to join an MLB team that could take LA down.
“Of course, I’d enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki,” Imai said, “but winning against a team like that and becoming a world champion would be the most valuable thing in my life. If anything, I’d rather take them down.”
He later doubled down, stating: “With the number of pitchers they already have, they don’t need me,” Imai said.
Now, Imai will be joining the Astros: a team which the Dodgers have their fair share of bad blood with. The terms of the right-handed pitcher’s contract were later announced with the Astros giving Imai $18 million per year.
The deal is expected to be the third-highest annual average value for a Japanese pitcher, trailing only Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers and Masahiro Tanaka’s seven-year, $155 million deal with the New York Yankees.
While the Dodgers as an organization have not responded to Imai’s comments on taking the dynasty down, third baseman Max Muncy spoke about the pitcher’s initial remarks.
“I mean, to be honest, it’s no different than any other starting pitcher out there — they all want to take us down,” Muncy said. “I haven’t looked into this guy at all. I don’t know what his stuff is. I’m sure he’s amazing, as we’ve seen a lot of Japanese pitchers come over and be extremely good — including the guys on our staff.
“So I’m sure he’s very talented. Every pitcher not on our team is saying the same thing: they want to take us down, they want to be the one to beat us. That’s what makes it fun to play for the Dodgers — you’re going to get everyone’s best every single night.”
When Will the Dodgers Face Tatsuya Imai and the Astros?
The Dodgers are set to face Imai and the Astros in a three-game series beginning May 4 in Houston.
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Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
2 Responses
He should focus on being productive in MLB 1st…
HE should change the “J” on his hat for an “L” because he has joined the Houston Losers….errr…cheaters. Id that’s the kind if team he wants ti be associated with, I say good riddance. He is just trying to make headlines in Japan where Ohtani and Yamamoto are getting all the press… Good Luck Loser…