Japanese right hander Tatsuya Imai and the Houston Astros have come to terms on a 3 year, $54M contract which could be worth as much as $63M if all incentives are hit.
If Imai throws at least 100 innings in 2026 he will earn an additional $3M, and see his base salary become $21M in 2027 and 2028. The deal will also feature opt outs for the 27 year old, making it an intriguing option to take the higher AAV on a shorter deal rather than locking in to a long term pact with another club.
A 3x NPB All-Star, Imai has been compared to Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto in terms of his potential front of the rotation impact he can have on a club. Imai went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA and 178 Ks across 163.2IP in Japan last year.
“Every season, I have played with the goal of winning the league championship and the Japan Series, and that ambition will not change with a new team,” Imai said earlier this offseason. “I will continue to compete with a strong desire to win and do my best to contribute to my team’s success.”
With a four-seam fastball that averages 94.9mph and an above average slider, Imai has consistently been one of the better pitchers across the NPB during his time in the league. However, he recently also added a changeup, splitter, and a curveball to diversify his arsenal, and has seen improved success against left handed batters as a result.
Imai will now join an Astros rotation that is likely to lose Framber Valdez this offseason, creating an immediate opportunity to see a good chunk of innings atop the rotation. The deal was negotiated by super agent Scott Boras and is expected to become official following a physical later this week.
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