Right-hander Tatsuya Imai and Houston Astros agree to $54 million,
3-year contract, AP source says
[January 02, 2026]
By RONALD BLUM
Right-hander Tatsuya Imai and the Houston Astros have
agreed to a $54 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the
negotiations told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the
agreement had not been announced. |
Tatsuya Imai wears Seibu Lions' jersey during a news conference in
Tokorozawa, Saitama prefecture, Japan, on Dec. 9, 2016. (Kyodo News via
AP, File) |
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Imai gets a $2 million signing bonus and salaries of $16 million
this year and $18 million in each of the final two seasons.
Based on his 2026 performance, his 2027 salary would escalate by
$2 million each for 80, 90 and 100 innings, and his 2028 salary
by $1 million for each level.
If he doesn't pitch 80 innings in 2026 and does in 2027, his
2028 salary would rise by $1 million. If he doesn't pitch 90
innings in 2026 and does in 2027, his 2028 salary would increase
by another $1 million. And if he doesn't pitch 100 innings in
2026 and does in 2027, his 2028 salary also would increase by
another $1 million.
Imai can opt out after the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Under the posting agreement between Major League Baseball and
Nippon Professional Baseball, a deal must be finalized by 5 p.m.
EST Friday.
Imai receives the third-highest average annual value for a
Japanese pitcher entering Major League Baseball behind Yoshinobu
Yamamoto's $27.08 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers in a deal
that started in 2024 and Masahiro Tanaka's $22.14 million with
the New York Yankees in a contract that ran from 2014-20.
A 27-year-old righty, Imai went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA last season
for the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions. He struck out 178 batters
in 163 2/3 innings.
Imai is 58-45 with a 3.15 ERA in eight seasons with Seibu, with
907 strikeouts in 963 2/3 innings. He is a three-time All-Star.
Imai pitched eight innings of a combined no-hitter against
Fukuoka on April 18. He struck out 17 against Yokohama on June
17, breaking Daisuke Matsuzaka’s previous team record of 16 from
2004.
Under MLB’s posting agreement with NPB, Seibu will get a posting
fee of $9.675 million from the Astros and a supplemental fee of
15% of any earned bonuses, salary escalators and exercised
options.
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