Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai has sparked anticipation as he approaches his MLB free agency window, expressing a clear preference to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers rather than join their ranks. The Dodgers’ recent success with Japanese pitchers, including World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, highlights their dominance in acquiring international talent. Imai’s comments, made during a televised interview with Japan’s TV Asahi program, have added an extra layer of intrigue to the ongoing bidding for top-tier international talent in Major League Baseball. The Dodgers have already secured a string of high-profile Japanese pitchers, including World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto and standout reliever Roki Sasaki. This is not a new trend for Los Angeles; they’ve been at the forefront of the international scouting efforts, leveraging their deep resources and strong player development systems.