LOS ANGELES — Just days after Tatsuya Imai, the highly sought-after Japanese pitcher in MLB’s free season, declared that the Los Angeles Dodgers “don’t need him” and even stated he wanted to beat the Dodgers rather than join them, superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto has sharply countered, sparking outrage in the baseball community.
The story stems from a recent statement by Imai—one of Japan’s top pitchers with an ERA under 2.00 and over 170 strikeouts in the 2025 season—when he asserted that the Dodgers didn’t need him because the team already had a wealth of excellent pitchers, and that he wanted to beat them rather than play alongside them.
This was a subtle challenge to the “Dodgers empire,” which had just signed closer Edwin Díaz for $69 million and continued to strengthen its roster after two consecutive World Series victories.
Yamamoto: “We don’t need anyone to prove their worth with words—we prove it with actions.”
Responding to Imai’s comments, Yamamoto—the Dodgers’ star pitcher, a World Series ring winner, and widely regarded as one of MLB’s top pitchers—not only responded calmly but sharply, but also delivered a philosophical message about baseball and true competitiveness:
“In baseball, nobody needs anyone by title or words. True value is measured by what you do on the field, not by what you declare off the field. We’re here to compete, to win, and to make history. When that day comes, we’ll all see.”
This powerful statement was immediately shared widely by fans on Twitter and Reddit, with many calling it a “profound and warrior-style Dodgers response.”
Yamamoto’s move comes as the MLB offseason heats up more than ever, as teams strive to strengthen their rosters while maintaining their competitive edge. Imai, currently a strong contender for several major teams, displayed a high fighting spirit, declaring that defeating the Dodgers at their peak was the biggest goal of his career.
But this “verbal challenge” was calmly but subtly countered by Yamamoto: Baseball is about action—not declarations.
Some Dodgers fans also emphasized that the team’s current status, with world-class pitchers like Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, and the addition of Edwin Díaz at bullpen, has created an “invincible image” in the eyes of many opponents—and Yamamoto’s response only reinforced this.
Imai’s actions have garnered international attention as numerous Japanese sources reported that he wants to face the strongest teams and win championships by defeating teams like the Dodgers.
Meanwhile, Yamamoto—who joined the Dodgers in 2024 and quickly became a key player—expressed a contrasting view: Players don’t need to prove themselves with big words, but with actual games and concrete achievements.
Reactions on social media and fan forums showed two distinct camps:
Some praised Imai for his evident competitive spirit and desire to challenge the “big teams.”
Many others viewed Yamamoto’s response as calm yet insightful, demonstrating a more stable composure in the high-pressure environment of MLB.
One prominent Redditor wrote: “You can challenge the Dodgers with words, but beating them on the court is the only thing that truly matters.”
Whether Imai joins a team that will face the Dodgers in the 2026 season or not, this kind of star-studded exchange has created a compelling psychological battle in the MLB offseason—a battle that not only the teams but also the fans are watching closely.
As the Dodgers prepare for the new season, the verbal sparring between Imai and Yamamoto is more than just a media story—it’s a powerful reminder that in baseball, actions speak louder than words.
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