Tatsuya Imai Houston Agreement: 3-Year Deal
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Astros Sign Japanese Pitcher Tatsuya Imai to Three-Year Contract
What Happened
The Houston Astros have agreed to a three-year contract with Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, pending confirmation from the club. The deal includes opt-out options after each season, as reported by Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Imai became eligible for Major League Baseball contracts after being released by the Saitama Seibu Lions of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league on November 19th, initiating a 45-day negotiation window for MLB teams.
Contract Details
The contract’s average annual value positions Imai as the third-highest paid japanese pitcher in MLB history, trailing only Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Los angeles Dodgers) and Masahiro Tanaka (formerly New York Yankees).
According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the deal can reach a maximum value of $63 million. The base salary is $18 million per season.Imai is eligible to earn up to $3 million in incentives each year by pitching at least 100 innings. If he reaches this incentive in 2026, his base salary will increase to $21 million for both the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
| Year | Base Salary | Potential Incentives | Maximum Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $18 million | Up to $3 million (100+ innings) | $21 million |
| 2026 | $18 million | Up to $3 million (100+ innings) | $21 million |
| 2027 | $18 million / $21 million* | Up to $3 million (100+ innings) | $21 million / $24 million* |
| 2028 | $18 million / $21 million* | Up to $3 million (100+ innings) | $21 million / $24 million* |
| Total (Guaranteed) | $54 million | $63 million (Maximum) |
*Dependent on reaching 100 innings pitched in 2026.
Imai’s Career in Japan
The 27-year-old Imai has established himself as a prominent pitcher in NPB. He has been selected for the All-Star Game three times, including in both 2024 and 2025. Over the past three seasons, he consistently maintained an ERA below 3.00 and recorded a strikeout rate exceeding one batter per inning.
The 2025 season was his moast successful to date, where he posted a 10-5 record with a