Tatsuya Imai has the chance to do funniest thing ever after Dodgers trash talk

Tatsuya Imai might’ve just delivered the line of the offseason. Asked about the idea of joining fellow Japanese superstars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki in Los Angeles, the right-hander flashed the competitive fire you want from a guy crossing the Pacific to face MLB’s best. But he didn’t stop there.

“Of course, I’d enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki," Imai said (via MLB.com). "But winning against a team like that and becoming a world champion would be the most valuable thing in my life. If anything, I'd rather take them down.”

That’s an elite quote. A top-tier offseason sound bite. The kind of thing you screenshot for future memes. But also ... If Imai signs with the Dodgers, it instantly becomes one of the funniest heel turns in baseball history.

Tatsuya Imai says he wants to beat the Dodgers, but it would be objectively hilarious if he joined them instead

Baseball needs drama. Baseball needs storylines. Baseball needs personalities. And Imai has accidentally written the perfect script.

Imagine the sequence:

Imai: “I’d rather beat the Dodgers.”
Dodgers: *hand him a contract with an enormous signing bonus*
Imai: “Did I say beat? I mean't join! Silly language barrier!"

You thought Yamamoto’s “I grew up a Yankees fan” arc was good? This would be even better. This is “I’m here to defeat the Final Boss … so I’m joining the Final Boss” energy.

Los Angeles fans will eat this up, too. They love a guy who talks a little, competes a lot, and accidentally becomes part of the Dodgers’ ever-growing multiverse of Japanese aces. If Imai signs, Dodgers fans will call the quote "funny in hindsight," and the rest of the league will roll their eyes and complain about payroll while secretly laughing.

Admittedly, the Dodgers' rotation is already ridiculous. They have Ohtani and Yamamoto, not to mention Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and (eventually... hopefully...) Sasaki. Add Imai, the guy who said he wants to beat this group? That's internet-breaking stuff. The Dodgers wouldn't just be collecting talent; they'd be collecting plot twists.

If Imai signs elsewhere, the quote becomes … cool. Competitive. Admirable. But if he signs with Los Angeles, it becomes a legendary offseason meme that Dodgers Twitter will bring up every time he throws seven scoreless. It becomes lore.

So, yes, Imai has a chance to do the funniest thing imaginable. Say you want to beat the superteam –– and then join the superteam.

Baseball needs that chaos. Dodgers fans need that content. And honestly? We all deserve that level of offseason entertainment.