"Sources told ESPN's Jesse Rogers that Imai agreed to a three-year contract worth at least $60 million that includes opt-outs. That would be the second-largest deal ever for a Japanese pitcher in terms of average annual value, behind only Yoshinobu Yamamoto's 12-year, $325 million deal ($27.08 million per year) with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023, sources told Rogers."
"Imai had a standout 2025 season for the Seibu Lions of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, posting a 10-5 record with a 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts to 45 walks in 163⅔ innings. The right-hander has a powerful fastball and has played his entire career in Japan. He pitched eight innings of a combined no-hitter against Fukuoka on April 18 and struck out 17 against Yokohama on June 17, breaking Daisuke Matsuzaka's team record of 16 from 2004."
"Imai has made great progress with his command over the past few seasons, taking his walks per nine innings from 5.1 in 2022 to 2.5 in 2025. Imai isn't just a touch-and-feel type, with his fastball sitting between 93 and 97 mph and hitting 99 mph. Imai has also been effective even when his walk rates were higher, posting an ERA under 3.00 for the past four seasons in NPB."
Tatsuya Imai agreed to a three-year contract with the Houston Astros worth at least $60 million that includes opt-outs. The deal ranks second in average annual value for a Japanese pitcher, behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Imai, 27, went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA, 178 strikeouts and 45 walks in 163⅔ innings for the Seibu Lions in 2025. His fastball sits 93-97 mph and has reached 99 mph. Walks per nine fell from 5.1 in 2022 to 2.5 in 2025. He helped pitch an eight-inning combined no-hitter, struck out 17 in a game and owns a career 58-45 record with a 3.15 ERA and 907 strikeouts.
Read at ESPN.com
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