Japanese Ace Tatsuya Imai Signs $63 Million Deal With Houston Astros
The Houston Astros and Japanese Ace Tatsuya Imai are reportedly in agreement on a three-year deal that maxes out at $63 million, per Chandler Rome. The contract has opt-outs after every season, giving Tatsuya Imai the option to re-enter the open market at any time after he shows teams what he can do against top Major League talent.
Imai Lands With the Astros
Although the Houston Astros were never seriously rumored to be pursuing Imai during free agency, their decision to sign him ultimately fits their needs perfectly. With Houston’s rotation plagued by injuries in recent seasons, Imai’s durability stands out, as he’s managed to stay healthy throughout his career and should immediately slot in near the top of the rotation. As Framber Valdez is expected to sign elsewhere this winter, the Astros will likely keep looking to bolster their pitching staff, but bringing in Imai is a significant step toward stabilizing their rotation.
Imai’s contract will carry the third-highest average annual value for a Japanese pitcher, trailing Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Masahiro Tanaka, who signed a seven-year, $155 million deal with the Yankees in 2014. In Japan, Imai turned heads with a stellar season. He posted a 1.92 ERA across 163.2 innings and racked up 178 strikeouts.
As a true ace, he utilizes a deep arsenal of six pitches—four-seam fastball, changeup, slider, curveball, splitter, and sinker. His fastball typically sits between 95 and 96 mph but can touch 99. At only 27, Imai is poised to make an immediate impact in Major League Baseball and put himself in position for an even larger contract down the line.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, sources indicate that he had offers for longer-term contracts with lower annual values but ultimately chose Houston’s shorter-term, higher-AAV deal with opt-outs. This strategic move gives him both financial security and future flexibility.
Scott Boras Did It Yet Again
Another day, another player taking a classic Scott Boras contract: a short-term deal with a high annual value and opt-outs after every year. The market for Imai wasn’t as robust as many expected, but he still landed a fantastic deal that keeps his long-term options open. Now, he will get a chance to showcase his talent on the biggest stage, as the Astros aim for a deep playoff run and a return to the World Series.
Boras also represents star Japanese Infielder Kazuma Okamoto, who must sign with an MLB team by 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 4th. Okamoto finds himself in a situation much like Imai’s, and Boras will likely pursue the same strategy: securing a short-term deal with multiple opt-outs, giving Okamoto the flexibility to re-enter free agency if he proves he can hit against elite pitching.
