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yesterday

Astros Unveil Tatsuya Imai on Three-Year Deal as He Opts Out of WBC

The club frames the signing as the start of a deeper presence in Asian scouting.

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Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai sits with General Manager Dana Brown, left, and his agent, Scott Boras, during a news conference introducing the Japanese pitcher at Daikin Park in Houston, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. Imai, 27, was an All-Star last season with the Seibu Lions in the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, where he went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA (35ER/163.2IP) in 24 games. Among qualified pitchers, Imai posted the lowest WHIP (0.89) in the Pacific League, while ranking second with 178 strikeouts in his 163.2 innings pitched.
Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai walks off the stage after posing for photos with his new cap and jersey during a news conference introducing the Japanese pitcher at Daikin Park in Houston, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. Imai, 27, was an All-Star last season with the Seibu Lions in the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, where he went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA (35ER/163.2IP) in 24 games. Among qualified pitchers, Imai posted the lowest WHIP (0.89) in the Pacific League, while ranking second with 178 strikeouts in his 163.2 innings pitched.

Overview

  • Houston introduced the 27-year-old right-hander at Daikin Park after finalizing a three-year, $54 million contract that includes player opt-outs after each of the first two seasons.
  • Performance incentives can raise the total to $63 million, with reporting indicating up to $3 million annually and a provision that lifts his 2027–28 base salary to $21 million if he reaches 100 innings in 2026.
  • Imai said he will not pitch for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, choosing to focus on acclimating to MLB and his new team.
  • He becomes the Astros’ first free agent signed directly from NPB, as owner Jim Crane and GM Dana Brown detailed recent scouting hires in Tokyo, Taiwan and South Korea.
  • Manager Joe Espada signaled a likely six-man rotation to ease Imai’s workload transition after a standout 2025 NPB season (10–5, 1.92 ERA, 178 strikeouts) and an eight-year Lions career marked by a 3.15 ERA and 907 strikeouts.