Orioles connection with top Japanese starter comes with one glaring problem

The Baltimore Orioles need an upgrade in the starting rotation in the worst way, and if Mike Elias is to be believed, they're going to be willing to consider all options. It would have been silly if Elias said anything different, and the true test will come this offseason. There are plenty of options available in free agency and the trade market for the Orioles to come away with a legitimate starting pitcher.

One of those options, according to Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required), is Japanese star Tatsuya Imai. Ranked ninth on Bowden's free-agent rankings, the 27-year-old could certainly seem enticing to the Orioles.

Tatsuya Imai might make sense for the Orioles, but Baltimore might not appeal much to him

While Tomoyuki Sugano came over with many accolades after his years toiling in the NPB, his signing with the Orioles was a very different beast. Sugano was a pitch-to-contact veteran entering his twilight years and wanted to make the leap to see if he could handle MLB hitters as his career came to a close.

Imai, on the other hand, is in his prime. The right-hander is a three-time NPB All-Star, and has a mid-90s heater that can touch 99 in addition to a wipeout slider and a proverbial junk drawer of other secondary offerings. As a result, the typical caveats apply.

That means West Coast teams will be attractive, as will big-market clubs. The second part is even more important when you consider that he's also a Scott Boras client.

Bowden has him pegged at a seven-year, $154 million deal, while ESPN's Jeff Passan has previously reported that sources told him they expect a contract between $150 million and $200 million for Imai.

As good as Imai is, he profiles more as a No. 2 or No. 3 starter, rather than a true ace. There are also some concerns about how his slight frame, he's listed at five-foot-11, 154 pounds, will hold up. His 1.92 ERA in 2025 might look very attractive, but remember that Sugano posted a 1.67 mark in his final year in the NPB.

Imai has struggled with command at points in Japan as well, so while he's the "next big thing" on the pitching front, this isn't a Yoshinobu Yamamoto or even Roki Sasaki type asset. The Orioles would be better off looking elsewhere for their ace, and that's a good thing, because he's probably not looking in Baltimore's direction, anyway.