(Photo credit score: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)
The Houston Astros and star Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in settlement on a free agent contract, ESPN reported Thursday.
It’s a three-year cope with opt-outs that features $54 million in ensures and may very well be price as much as $63 million, per the report.
It could be the second-largest deal ever when it comes to common annual worth for a Japanese pitcher behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed a 12-year, $325 million deal ($27.08 million AAV) with the Los Angeles Dodgers in late 2023.
Imai, 27, was a three-time All-Star in eight seasons with the Seibu Lions in Nippon Professional Baseball.
He completed 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA in 24 video games in 2025, placing out 178 batters in 163 2/3 innings.
Imai, who’s listed at 5-foot-11 and 154 kilos, was routinely clocked round 93-95 mph together with his fastball final season. Identifiable by his flowing brown hair, Imai additionally throws a sinker and slider and was projected to be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter on the MLB degree.
The New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves have been all reported to be amongst groups excited by signing Imai.
–Field Level Media