The San Diego Padres enter the offseason facing one of the most pressing challenges in Major League Baseball: rebuilding a starting rotation that could soon have more holes than answers. The club has made no secret of the fact that pitching is its top priority, and the situation has only become more urgent as it prepares for the possibility of losing multiple key arms. Two of their most important starters, Dylan Cease and Michael King, are on track to hit free agency, and there is genuine concern within the organization that both could leave for other franchises offering bigger deals or clearer paths to contention.
The Padres invested meaningful resources to acquire Cease and King, but free agency introduces a level of uncertainty that no team can fully control, particularly with several big market clubs expected to pursue starting pitching aggressively.
Compounding the issue is the absence of Yu Darvish, a major blow for a rotation that already lacked depth in 2025 and now faces an even more complicated outlook moving forward. Darvish, one of the most experienced and steady presences on the pitching staff, will miss the entire 2026 season following surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon. In addition, surgeons reinforced his ulnar collateral ligament with an internal brace, a procedure similar to what some pitchers undergo as an alternative to a full Tommy John reconstruction. While this approach sometimes provides a quicker recovery timeline, it still guarantees that Darvish will not be available next year. The Padres had come to rely on him not only for innings but also for leadership, and replacing that combination will be nearly impossible.
With so much uncertainty surrounding their established starters, the front office has been forced to explore creative solutions. One scenario being discussed internally is shifting one of their talented relievers into a starting role. Mason Miller has often been mentioned in this context. As one of the most electric bullpen arms in the league, Miller boasts a dominant fastball and swing-and-miss stuff that would be appealing in a larger role. Yet moving him into the rotation comes with significant risk. The conversion from relief to starting is never simple, especially for pitchers whose workloads have been carefully managed. It would also strip the bullpen of a major weapon, potentially weakening an area that was already strained at various points last season. Given the depth of the current free agent market, many evaluators believe the Padres would be better served by targeting experienced starters rather than experimenting with a role change that could destabilize the pitching staff even further.
Fortunately for San Diego, the global marketplace for pitching may offer exactly the kind of opportunity they need. One of the most intriguing names to emerge this offseason is Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, a standout performer in Nippon Professional Baseball. Imai has been a member of the Saitama Seibu Lions since 2018 and has steadily developed into one of the league’s premier starters. His consistency and ability to pitch deep into games helped secure him three NPB All-Star selections, and his steady improvement has drawn the attention of talent evaluators across North America. With his official posting date set for November nineteenth, the timing has lined up perfectly for teams desperate to strengthen their rotations.
Once Imai is posted, Major League clubs will have a forty-five day window to negotiate a contract with him. If he does not come to terms during that period, he will return to the Lions for the 2026 NPB season. This structured timeline often creates a flurry of activity, particularly when the player in question has a combination of age, upside, durability, and international track record that suggests he could become a long term anchor of a rotation. Imai fits that profile, which is why several front offices have already been connected to him since the posting news became public.
According to MLB Network reporter David Vassegh, who spoke with individuals familiar with the situation, there is already a developing group of frontrunners for Imai’s services. He identified the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Mets as leading contenders, while adding that the Padres are also firmly in the mix. Vassegh explained the reasoning by saying, “And speaking of some sources, with my Japanese friends out there, they told me that the Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, and Mets are the leading candidates to sign Imai, along with the Padres, who we know is in desperate need of starting pitching, and they obviously have the advantage of geography being on the West Coast.”
The mention of geographic advantage is not insignificant. While players coming from Japan tend to consider a wide range of factors, West Coast locations often hold particular appeal due to travel logistics, cultural familiarity, and the presence of established Japanese communities and support networks. The Padres have benefited from this dynamic before and could do so again, especially at a time when their need for rotation help is more pressing than that of nearly any other club in the league.
For fans who have watched the offseason unfold with growing concern, the news that the Padres are positioned as legitimate contenders for Imai should provide some encouragement. Little has gone right for San Diego since its season ended. The injuries, the contract uncertainties, and the broader questions about the future direction of the franchise have created an atmosphere of anxiety. But the pursuit of a pitcher like Imai represents a potential turning point. He is not a short term patch or a project needing development but rather a polished professional with the capability to step into a Major League rotation immediately.
Imai brings a reputation for command, endurance, and mound presence that could make him a foundational piece. While there is no guarantee that his NPB success will translate directly to MLB, his profile aligns well with other pitchers who have transitioned successfully. Scouts note that his pitch mix, mechanics, and ability to adjust mid-game all project favorably for a move to North America. For the Padres, who desperately need stability, that skill set could make him an ideal fit. Unlike some free agents who might come with concerns about age or durability, Imai appears to be entering his prime. Signing him would not only address the immediate void in the rotation but also provide a long term solution that could reshape the staff for years to come.
Of course, competition for his services will be fierce. The Yankees are always aggressive in international markets, especially when they believe a top-of-the-rotation caliber pitcher is available. The Phillies and Blue Jays each have their own pitching needs and front offices that have shown a willingness to invest heavily when the right opportunity presents itself. The Mets, under their current leadership, have become increasingly bold in pursuing global talent. San Diego will not be able to rely solely on geography as an advantage. They will need to present a compelling plan, one that emphasizes immediate opportunity, organizational support, and a vision for winning.
Still, even with these challenges, the Padres remain in a promising position. Their need for pitching is well known, but that need also creates clarity. They can offer Imai the chance to step into a prominent role immediately, something that might appeal to a player determined to prove himself on the sport’s biggest stage. They can also make a strong case that he would help define the next chapter of the franchise, a chance to be more than just another offseason acquisition.
The Padres have rarely faced an offseason with this much at stake. The potential loss of Cease and King, coupled with Darvish’s long recovery timeline, has placed enormous pressure on the front office. Their decisions will shape not just the 2026 season but possibly several years beyond it. While internal experimentation such as moving Mason Miller into the rotation might be considered, the risks are significant, and the costs to bullpen stability could create more problems than solutions. The free agent market, on the other hand, offers a variety of experienced starters, but few with the unique combination of age, trajectory, and ceiling that Imai possesses.
If the Padres are able to secure Imai, it would send a signal not just to fans but to the entire league that San Diego remains committed to contending. It would show that even amid adversity and roster uncertainty, the organization is still capable of making impactful, forward thinking moves. And for supporters who have been eager for something to feel optimistic about, the possibility of adding a pitcher with Imai’s credentials may be the most hopeful development of the offseason so far.
In many ways, the Padres’ pursuit of Imai represents both a necessity and an opportunity. Their current situation demands bold action, and the emergence of a high level international pitcher on the open market gives them a chance to reshape a weakened rotation with a single, decisive signing. Nothing is guaranteed, but the interest is real, the window is open, and the Padres appear ready to make a serious push.
Should they succeed, it could mark the beginning of a much needed renewal. Should they fall short, it will only intensify the pressure to find answers elsewhere. For now, though, the team and its fanbase have reason to believe that something meaningful may be on the horizon. The offseason has been filled with setbacks, but the pursuit of Tatsuya Imai offers a reminder that opportunities still exist, and with them, the possibility of a brighter future for the San Diego rotation.