The Houston Astros solidified their beginning rotation forward of the 2026 season after signing Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai on a three-year, $54 million contract final week.
The Japanese free agent was pursued by a number of big-market groups, together with the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs, this offseason. Nonetheless, the Astros gained the race for the right-handed pitcher on Friday.
Following the addition of the Japanese ace, Astros supervisor Joe Espada talked about Imai’s mentality on MLB Community Radio after his career-best season within the NPB in 2025.
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“It’s a resilient arm; this child has simply been speaking to him for a couple of minutes,” Espada stated. “He’s obtained this hearth in his eyes; this man is a winner. He desires to win, and we’re excited to have him.”
Imai will function in a rotation that boasts Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, Spencer Arrighetti, Lance McCullers Jr., Jason Alexander and the recently-acquired Mike Burrows.
Imai posted a 10-5 report with a career-best 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts in 163 2/3 innings within the NPB in 2025.
MLB insider outlines potential purpose for Tatsuya Imai’s sluggish free company
Whereas a number of groups had been linked with Tatsuya Imai after he was posted for MLB groups in November, studies instructed considerations over the Japanese ace’s adaptability.
MLB insider Will Sammon reported that groups had been cautious of his fastball’s velocity and accuracy, hurting his market.
“Groups preferred Imai — round 15 no less than checked in on him, per league sources — however some scouts and executives from totally different golf equipment stated pitch knowledge harm his market,” Sammon wrote. Some evaluators harbored considerations over how Imai’s fastball would fare within the majors.
“Imai can dial his fastball to the higher 90s. However scouts questioned the motion and airplane of the fastball whereas additionally questioning if he may successfully pitch off the heater as a substitute of needing to make use of all his pitches early and sometimes.”
The Japanese pitcher’s contract contains opt-outs after 2026 and 2027 and Imai could possibly be a free agent if he has a powerful rookie 12 months with the Astros subsequent season.
Edited by Chaitanya Prakash
