Mets to rebuild their starting rotation with $154 Million Japanese Pitcher after missing the playoffs this year

The New York Mets enter this offseason knowing they must overhaul their starting rotation after it played a major role in their failure to reach the playoffs.

President David Stearns and owner Steve Cohen can’t afford to take a passive approach — addressing the rotation is an absolute priority.

Even with promising young arms like Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat in the system, the Mets need to stay aggressive and add multiple proven starters. For any contender, having an excess of starting pitching heading into spring training is a luxury, not a problem.

The challenge for New York is that every playoff hopeful will also be hunting for pitching upgrades. Fortunately, this offseason’s market is expected to feature several top-tier arms — and one in particular has caught the eye of former general manager Jim Bowden: Tatsuya Imai of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

“Imai is an undersized (5-foot-11, 154 pounds) right-hander for the Saitama Seibu Lions who’s expected to be posted this offseason,” Bowden wrote in The Athletic.

“He typically works in the mid-90s but can touch the high-90s when needed. His best secondary pitch is a devastating slider, complemented by a changeup, splitter, curveball, and sinker. A two-time NPB All-Star, Imai recorded a 1.92 ERA over 163 2/3 innings this year. Despite his smaller frame, he’s proven durable and projects as a reliable mid-rotation starter in MLB. Best fits: Mets, Giants, Red Sox, Cubs, Orioles, Astros, Padres.”

While the Mets won’t be the only contender chasing Imai — as every team seeks elite pitching at a reasonable cost — they’re among the few clubs financially equipped to outbid most of the competition. Only the Yankees and Dodgers could realistically spend more.

Bowden predicts Imai could command a seven-year, $154 million deal, averaging $22 million annually — a manageable figure for a big-spending team like New York.

Still, with Pete Alonso projected to land a $182 million contract this winter, Stearns and Cohen will have to decide where to allocate resources most effectively. What’s certain is that they can’t afford another season like the last one.