Tatsuya Imai, one of the most sought-after players of the MLB offseason, has decided to join the Houston Astros in a shocking move that few expected. While surprising from a baseball standpoint, the decision makes sense financially for the Japanese pitcher.
During this offseason, the name of Tatsuya Imai emerged as one of the top options for several MLB teams looking to address their pitching needs. While the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs showed strong interest in the Japanese standout, it was the Houston Astros who ultimately secured his services.
The former Saitama Seibu Lions pitcher chose Houston largely due to the lucrative offer the Astros put on the table. As a newcomer to MLB, several teams were reportedly hesitant to commit major money, but Houston believed a talent of Imai’s caliber would not remain in free agency for long.
Tatsuya Imai’s contract with the Astros and career stats
According to Jesse Rogers and Jon Heyman, Imai has agreed to a three-year deal with opt-outs. The contract guarantees $18 million per year, with up to $3 million in performance bonuses tied to innings pitched (80, 90, and 100 IP), allowing the total value to reach $21 million per season. The deal includes $54 million guaranteed and could be worth as much as $63 million overall.
The 27-year-old right-hander was a three-time NPB All-Star, including selections in both 2024 and 2025. He arguably delivered the best season of his career in 2025, posting a 10-5 record with a career-best 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts across 163 2/3 innings.
Over eight seasons with the Lions, Imai compiled a 58-45 record, a 3.15 ERA, and 907 strikeouts in 963 2/3 innings pitched. He is known for his four-seam fastball and slider combination, averaging 94.9 mph on his fastball during the 2025 season.
Japanese players in Houston Astros history
Tatsuya Imai will become the fourth Japanese player to ever play for the Houston Astros. Kazuo Matsui, Norichika Aoki, and Yusei Kikuchi are the other players from Japan who have previously suited up for the franchise.
Across all of MLB, there are now 15 Japanese players, including Imai. Shohei Ohtani clearly stands out as the most prominent figure, but Imai will look to carve out his own legacy by making history with Houston.