Pitcher Contract

Tatsuya Imai signs short-term deal with Houston Astros

January 02, 2026 Ti AI ṣe iroyin Àwòrán tí AI ṣe

Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai has agreed to a three-year contract with the Houston Astros worth up to $63 million, including opt-out clauses after the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The 27-year-old right-hander, previously with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Nippon Professional Baseball, surprised many by choosing a shorter deal than preseason projections anticipated. While around 15 teams showed interest, concerns about his fastball translation to Major League Baseball influenced the market dynamics.