NEW YORK – The Houston Astros on Friday announced the acquisition of Japanese right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai from the Seibu Lions via the posting system on a three-year, $54 million deal.
The contract includes a clause that allows Imai to opt out after the 2026 and 2027 seasons and could earn the former Seibu ace up to $63 million with performance bonuses, according to U.S. media.
The Astros plan to officially introduce the 27-year-old at a press conference on Monday.
Houston is seeking to return to Major League Baseball’s pinnacle after winning the World Series in 2017 and 2022 but missing the playoffs last year. The club has won the American League West division seven times in the last nine years.
Imai joined the Lions in 2017 out of high school as the club’s top draft pick. He has earned double-digit wins for the past three seasons and led the Pacific League with 187 strikeouts in 2024.
In eight seasons with Seibu, Imai had a 58-45 record, 3.15 ERA and 907 strikeouts over 963-2/3 innings pitched.
AloJapan.com